People who intentionally misuse our webforms and processes by repeatedly filing manifestly unfounded notices will be flagged, and their requests will be closed without assessment.
Examples of misuse include:
- Filing multiple requests for the same content to be evaluated
- Continuing to reopen your case with no new information once we have already issued a final decision
- Not providing sufficient information for us to assess your request after we’ve asked for clarification
- Sending us spam, such as advertisements or information unrelated to content removals
Those who repeatedly misuse Google’s webforms will receive a written warning before we take action. If misuse continues, the user will be suspended from reporting content and their requests will be closed without assessment for a period of up to six months, and an autoreply will be issued. After a maximum of six months, new requests for content removal may be submitted.
To appeal a suspension
If you are receiving automatic replies because you have been flagged for misuse, but you think that Google should reconsider your request, you may send a letter to the following address:
Google Legal
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
United States
In your letter please include the following information:
1. Identify precisely (a) the URL of each allegedly illegal piece of content, (b) the exact text or content you claim violates your rights under applicable law, (c) the reason you believe the content violates your rights or is illegal under applicable law, and (d) the specific law(s) of your country you believe to be applicable to the best of your knowledge.
2. Provide an email or postal address that permits Google to contact you.
3. Include the following statement: "I have a good faith belief that the information specified above is not permitted by applicable law."
4. Include the following statement: “I confirm my belief, in good faith, that the information and allegations contained in this notification are accurate and complete.”
5. Sign the document with your full legal name.
Please note that a copy of each legal notice we receive may be sent to a third-party partner, such as Lumen, for publication and annotation. Please see our help center article for more information on the Lumen project, including the publication and redaction policies.
Alternatively, you may also have the option to refer this matter to a certified out-of-court dispute settlement body. You can learn more about this option here. If you have legal questions or wish to examine other remedies that may be available to you, including the option of referring this matter to a court, you may wish to speak to your own lawyer.
Bad faith requests
From time to time, people attempt to convince us to remove content by making false claims that they swear, under penalty of perjury, to be true and made in good faith. We therefore review requests to help avoid unjustified removal of content.
We take false complaints very seriously, particularly where we identify a pattern of abuse. Making false claims is an abuse of Google’s content removal process and may even be illegal. We will not take action on requests that are made in bad faith.