Given Google’s insane depth and breadth, anything you do or say on the Web (or done and said about you) will live on forever – for better or ill.
It’s the latter that’s concerning many people as old embarrassing photos, information or opinions are forever linked with their name – usually high up in the results – and there’s nothing they can do about it.
The New York Times looks at those who contact Google begging to be de-Googled and wipe the tarnish away from searches around their name. The paper takes a look at how some are trying to mitigate the damage, given they can’t eliminate it entirely.
“The Web is the worst place to try to take control of something,” said Larry Weber, the chief executive of W2 Group Inc., a marketing services company. “You’ll drive yourself crazy trying to get things deleted.”
