Report Content for Legal Reasons
We take harmful or unlawful content seriously across Google products.
If you find content that you believe violates the law or infringes your rights, you can submit a report. Once received, we will review the material and may block, restrict, or remove access where appropriate.
Some content—such as phishing, violence, or explicit material—may also violate platform policies and can be removed under Google’s enforcement guidelines.
Before submitting a legal request, we recommend using the flagging tools within the product itself whenever possible.
How to Submit a Legal Removal Request
To ensure your report is processed efficiently, follow these steps:
1. Select the Correct Product
Choose the Google product where the content appears (e.g., YouTube).
2. Choose a Reporting Reason
Select the legal basis for your request.
3. Provide Exact URLs
Include the specific page URLs of the content being reported—not just the homepage.
If needed, you can learn how to locate the correct URL for reporting.
4. Describe the Issue Clearly
Explain:
- What content is violating your rights or the law
- Why it should be removed
- Any relevant background details to help review your request
5. Submit the Form
After submission, you will receive:
- A confirmation email
- A reference number for tracking
After You Submit a Report
- You may receive follow-up questions or requests for clarification
- Monitor your email for updates
- If content appears across multiple Google products, submit a separate report for each one
- Valid requests are reviewed as quickly as possible
Google can remove or restrict content within its own platforms, but the same content may still exist elsewhere online. If needed, you may also choose to contact the website owner directly to request removal.
Protecting Your Information
We are committed to strong privacy and security protections.
- Review our Privacy Policy to understand how your data is handled
- Visit the Safety Center for tools and guidance on staying safe online
Transparency and Accountability
Transparency is a core principle of our services. We publish information about how legal removal requests are processed and how content moderation decisions are made.
Understanding Copyright (DMCA)
Google complies with copyright removal requests under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
For more information about copyright policies and valid notices, visit the Copyright Help Center.
