How long does it actually take to remove a link from Google? We checked 142 cases

Data from 142 cases: Statistics don't lie

In the period from January 1 to October 15, 2024, we conducted a detailed analysis of 142 right to be forgotten cases. All requests concerned private individuals from Poland. The average waiting time for the first concrete decision was exactly 17 business days. This is significantly longer than general online guides promise. In 94.6% of cases, Google first sends an automated confirmation that means nothing.

We noticed that the process is not linear. Requests sent on Tuesday mornings were considered 2.3 days faster than those sent on Friday afternoons. The shortest link removal time we recorded this year was 3 days and 12 hours. This concerned a leak of sensitive data, such as PESEL number and home address, on a public forum. The longest case dragged on for 34 days before the link finally disappeared from search results.

The analysis also shows that Google is increasingly rarely accepting simple justifications. In 2024, as many as 87 requests required us to supplement legal arguments after an initial refusal. This proves that without hard paragraphs, the chances of success drop by half. We have specific paragraphs for this and know how to use them to force algorithms and moderators to act.

The average waiting time for a Google decision in 2024 is exactly 17 business days.

Why do some links disappear in 4 days?

Fast data removal is possible only in specific scenarios. If your first and last name appear next to financial information or intimate photos, Google reacts more efficiently. In our 142 cases, requests based on physical privacy violations were considered in an average of 4.2 days. The key here is precisely indicating a violation of the search engine's regulations, not just a general removal request.

We act in silence because we know that publicizing the matter often brings the opposite effect. In the case of a client from Wroclaw whose link we removed in 78 hours, success lay in quick contact with the source service administrator and simultaneous reporting to Google. Such a two-track strategy shortens the waiting time by about 5 days compared to the standard procedure.

It is worth remembering that Google has offices in different time zones. Our measurements show that requests reaching teams in Europe are processed differently than those that go for verification in the USA. The difference in reaction time can be up to 36 hours. We know how to prepare documentation so that it passes through these filters without unnecessary questions from moderators.

Requests based on physical privacy violations are considered 62% faster.

Obstacles that extend the process to a month

The most difficult are cases concerning press articles from 6-8 years ago. Here, Google often cites public interest. In 2024, we had 19 such cases where removal time exceeded 30 days. Google then analyzes whether the applicant is a public person. If you hold a social function, the process is 43% more difficult and requires the involvement of a lawyer specialized in the protection of personal rights.

Another brake is an incomplete form. An error in one URL can block the procedure for 12 days. Google does not ask for a correction; it simply rejects the application after two weeks of silence. We clear traces effectively because we check every application twice before sending. Thanks to this, we avoid errors that in 2023 affected nearly 27% of independent reports.

Often the problem is also the so-called Streisand effect. An attempt to remove information that is mass-copied to other portals makes Google consider the topic 'current'. Then the waiting time extends until interest drops. At Nick Castro, we monitor these trends daily. If we see that a link is too fresh, we advise the client to wait 11-14 days to increase the chance of permanent removal on the first try.

How does Nick Castro speed up data removal?

Our method is based on facts, not requests. Instead of writing 'please remove this', we send a ready legal analysis. We shorten the process by an average of 6 working days thanks to direct knowledge of appeal procedures. Your data, your control – this is not just a slogan for us. Since September 2016, when we founded the company in Wroclaw, we have developed paths that an ordinary user has no idea about.

Each of the 142 cases taught us something new about Google's algorithms. We know, for example, that attaching a scan of an ID card with unnecessary data covered speeds up identity verification by 48 hours. We withdraw information from circulation using tools that automatically check if a link has actually disappeared from the index or has only been hidden for Polish users.

We don't promise miracles in 2 hours because that's impossible. We do promise, however, that your application will not end up in the bin due to a formal error. Our team, consisting of 14 specialists, ensures that every case is monitored every 24 hours. If Google remains silent for over 18 days, we immediately send a reminder based on specific judgments of the EU Court of Justice.

We shorten the removal process by an average of 6 business days thanks to our knowledge of appeal procedures.