Delisting or removal at the source: which do I need?
Usually both, in parallel. They aren't two strengths of the same thing. They ask different parties to do different jobs, and the law treats them separately: section 512(c) covers a provider storing material, and section 512(d) covers a provider linking to it, such as a search engine.
Which one first?
It depends on what you're looking at today.
| Your situation | Do this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| It ranks when someone searches your name | File with the search engines straight away, and notify the site at the same time | Your name search is the harm you can reduce fastest, and delisting doesn't wait for the site |
| The site answers notices | Notify the site first. Delist whatever's left | Removal also ends the link everywhere else, including social posts and other search engines |
| The site ignores everything | Go up to host and registrar, and delist regardless | If the page never comes down, delisting is what's left |
| The page is already dead but still listed | Outdated content request only | No copyright claim is needed for a page that no longer exists |
| The content isn't yours to claim, but it's you | Google's explicit-image route | That route rests on being the person shown |
The limits of each
Delisting applies only to the search engine you filed with. Google says it can only remove content from its results pages, and a partial removal may only cover searches containing your name. Bing has its own form.
Removal at the source applies only to that copy. The same file on another site stays up, and the old link can keep showing in search until someone files. That's why a stale result after a successful takedown doesn't mean the notice failed.
How to tell which you got
Open the link in a private window, then search for it. Dead page and gone from search means both are done. Live page and gone from search means delisted only. Dead page still in search means it's a job for the outdated content tool. The monthly plan's weekly report marks every link as live, cached or dead for the same reason: "removed" alone doesn't tell you which one happened.
General information, not legal advice. I'm not a lawyer and Abolita is not a law firm. Checked against the linked sources on 6 November 2026.
Quick answers
Is delisting enough on its own?
Sometimes it's all you can get. It stops that search engine leading people to the page, but the page stays online, reachable by link, on social media and through other search engines.
Do I need a separate notice for each?
Yes. A notice reaches only the party you send it to, so the site, its host and each search engine are separate filings.
Sources
Related
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