Google Removes Personal Medical Records From SERPs

[engine]

Google has decided to remove "Confidential, personal medical records of private people" from its SERPs, by adding that line to the Google removal policies page. [support.google.com]

A Google spokeswoman confirmed the changes do not affect search advertising but declined to comment further. Google Removes Personal Medical Records From SERPs [bloomberg.com]

What's "private people"
Is that you and me?

Trouble is, so much information is put online by others either in error, or deliberately, and then withdrawing the data is almost impossible. Putting your own info online is entirely different to someone else taking it and publishing it, especially medical data.

[lucy24]

It kinda sounds like Google stepping in and coming to the rescue of humans who happen to patronize medical offices whose IP people are grossly incompetent. Hm. Possibly some Google staffer found their own records online and screamed wtf?!

[keyplyr]

Great... now I wonder what, if any, action will ever be taken with the "We found the arrest record for [your name here] and then you need to pay the look-up fee to discover what, if any, info is published.

[lucy24]

Well, arrest records might legitimately be public record. Medical records rarely are. Which won't prevent scammy sites from advertising $39.95 to see all of keyplyr's arrest records, fines and outstanding warrants ... and then you cough up, and it turns out he's never been arrested.

Do I need to explain that I am making this up?

[keyplyr]

And an extra $20 to see the rap sheet for crime partner lucy24

making this up too

[londrum]

Didn't the UK NHS share millions of medical records with google, as part of some big data program? Not exactly sure what the deal was, but it will be bad for google if the info has ended up on the internet

[keyplyr]

IMO anytime information is published, no matter where, there's the risk of breach & exploit for nefarious purpose. Medical records can contain extremely sensitive information including financials that could affect insurance coverage, credit rating, job consideration and much more.

2 years ago my health insurance company notified me they "partnered" with my medical group (doctor & hospital) to "share" my medical information to "benefit" my "experience." I immediately got on the phone & didn't stop until I put a stop to it. I later visited the medical records dept of my hospital to confirm no information would ever be shared without prior consent from me, a family member or a designated agent acting on my behalf.

[smilie]

Good news.

This is against the law too - having it public. Another billions lawsuit avoided, whew!

@londrum, Google was always trying to buy medical records data feeds. US too. There are very strict laws against using it how they are trying to do, to identify each person. But laws are not for the big boys club. Billions that can be made from this are too sweet.