Google search deletion requests finally top 10 billion
As part of its efforts to combat copyright infringement, Google removes illegal content from Google search results, primarily in response to
Google Transparency Report
https://transparencyreport.google.com/copyright/overview
Google Asked to Remove 10 Billion “Pirate” Search Results * TorrentFreak
https://torrentfreak.com/google-asked-to-remove-10-billion-pirate-search-results-241105/
The number of DMCA removal requests received by Google can be found in the ' Content removed for copyright issues ' section of Google's Transparency Report , which publishes data on privacy, security, and access to information. The 'Content removed for copyright issues' section tracks the total number of URLs requested for removal, the domains that were flagged as infringing, and the number of copyright holders and organizations that made the request.
Since the section for excluding content due to copyright issues was added in 2012, it took about two years for the total number of requests to increase by 1 billion from 2019 to 2021, but it has been reported that it has increased by 1 billion in just six months since it exceeded 7 billion around August 2023, and is growing at an unprecedented pace. The main reason for the sudden increase in removal requests is that agencies that specialize in DMCA requests are sending a large number of requests on behalf of rights holders.
Google search deletion requests are exploding at record levels, total number may exceed 10 billion by the end of this year - GIGAZINE
Then, in November 2024, it was confirmed that the total number of requests had finally exceeded 10 billion. Below are the figures from the Transparency Report confirmed at around 17:00 on November 7, 2024. At this point, there were more than 10.1 billion 'URLs requested for removal,' 5.4 million specified domains, and more than 600,000 copyright holders who requested removal.
According to TorrentFreak, a media outlet that covers the topic of piracy, when they first started publishing reports, Google was processing millions of requests per year. The number grew exponentially, topping one billion in 2016, but began to decline around 2017. This is due to the fact that various anti-piracy algorithms began to become widespread, making it harder for pirated content to appear in search results.
Below is a graph showing the increase in Google takedown notices shown by TorrentFreak. According to this, the number of Google takedown notices increased slowly from 2012 to 2016, but increased rapidly from around 2016, and after a temporary slowdown, the number remained constant, and then showed an even more rapid increase from around 2024.
TorrentFreak also points out that in recent years, not only has the total number of removal requests increased, but there has also been a change in the sites targeted. In the early 2012, torrent sites that allowed users to download illegal content were the mainstream, but later file hosting services and streaming portals became the mainstream. In a report released by MUSO, which tracks copyright infringement, and released data on piracy in 2023, it was shown that 'streaming sites account for 96.3% of pirated TV programs, and torrent sites and download portals have almost disappeared.' According to TorrentFreak, file hosting services and streaming portals have more indexed pages than torrent sites, so the increase in domains specified in removal requests is also a cause of the recent increase.
The 2023 edition of the piracy survey data has been announced, what are the trends by category, such as TV programs, manga, movies, music, and software? - GIGAZINE
The 10 billion number is the total number of requests received by Google, and the transparency data does not reveal how many URLs have actually been removed. For example, the domain 'WhiteHouse.gov,' the official page of the White House, has received 27 requests by 2024, but Google has not accepted removal requests in cases where it 'did not find any copyright-infringing content on the site.' In the past, there have also been reports of cases where DMCA removal requests were abused to have rival websites removed from Google search results.
If the takedown notice is valid, Google will remove the content from Google products. If they decide to take action, they will notify the affected site administrator through Google Search Console, and the site owner can file a counter-notice. Google reviews all counter-notices to determine whether to reinstate or remove the content. Google states, 'It is our policy to respond appropriately to clear and specific notices of alleged copyright infringement.'
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