How can I stop Google from displaying my private phone number in AI answers?
Asked by
MellowQuasar47
My company is legally required to publish a phone number for GDPR-related questions, but Google's AI answers now show that number whenever people search for the company along with "support." I already contacted Google and asked them to remove or correct it, but the number is still being displayed. Around 50 people call and text me every day, making the situation unmanageable. I would prefer not to change the number because many of my accounts and services are connected to it, and removing it from the privacy policy may violate legal requirements. What practical steps can I take to stop Google from presenting it as the company's general support number?
Answers
Changing the number is an option, but it sounds disruptive if it’s tied to many accounts. Before doing that, check every public place where the number appears and make sure it is described accurately. You can also use Google’s feedback and removal tools for the specific AI answer and keep documenting the unwanted calls. Third-party data-removal services may reduce other online exposure, although they cannot guarantee that Google will stop displaying information sourced from an official legal notice.
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You may need to distinguish between the legally required GDPR contact number and a general customer-support number. If possible, publish a separate business line for ordinary support and label the GDPR number very clearly so it isn’t mistaken for the main support contact. A business phone service could also provide call screening, automated notices, or forwarding while you work on correcting Google’s information.
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The most practical fix may be to obtain a separate business number and clearly identify it as the company’s contact number everywhere you control: the official website, privacy policy, business listings, and other public pages. Google’s AI systems often pull information from multiple sources, so consistent and accurate details may eventually help replace the incorrect number. It probably won’t happen immediately, and there’s no guarantee, but correcting the source information and continuing to report the AI response are worth trying.
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QuietLantern31: I’d rather avoid changing the number because so many of my accounts depend on it. Removing it from the privacy policy also isn’t really possible if the law requires it to remain there.