Google agrees to remove reviews of Irish schools after principals present evidence of harmful content

Rachel O’Connor of the NAPD, Adrienne O’Sullivan, CEO Arag Ireland, and RiskEye’s Nicola Byrne. Photo: Paul Sherwood

Google is to remove online reviews of Irish schools by parents, students and others from its maps and search listings after a successful campaign by school principals.

The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) provided the tech giant with evidence — gathered over the past 18 months on its behalf by a specialist online safety firm — of serious difficulties that had arisen for schools and teachers caused by negative reviews posted on Google platforms.