Google will stop its dark web report tool on February 16, 2026. This comes less than two years after the tool was launched to help users see if their personal information had been found on the dark web. Scans for new dark web breaches will cease earlier, on January 15, 2026.
Google explained in a support document that the reason for discontinuing the feature is that the report provided only general information and user feedback showed it did not offer helpful next steps. The company stated that it will instead focus on providing tools that give users clearer, actionable steps to protect their information online.
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The tech giant has confirmed that all data connected to the dark web report will be deleted when the feature is retired in February. Users who wish to remove their monitoring profile sooner have the option to do so by going to the Dark Web report, clicking Edit monitoring profile under “Results with your info,” and then selecting “Delete monitoring profile” followed by Delete at the bottom of the page.
The dark web report feature was introduced by Google in March 2023. Its purpose was to help fight online identity fraud that can result from personal information being stolen in data breaches and then sold or shared on the dark web. The tool was built to scan the darknet for personal data, which could include names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers, and then alert users when a match was found.
Initially, the offering was available only to Google One subscribers, but in July 2024, Google extended access to all account holders. As the report is retired, Google is encouraging users to improve their account privacy and security by setting up a passkey for multi-factor authentication that is resistant to phishing, and by using the Results about you feature to remove their personal information from Google Search results.
Source: Google To Shut Down Dark Web Monitoring Tool In February 2026
Briliant breakdown of Google's pivot here. The shift from passive monitoring to active protection like passkeys makes alot of sense when you think aobut user behavior. I dealt with a client last year who had dark web alerts coming in but had no idea what to actually do with them, which really underscores the limitation of tools that just tell you something bad happened without a clear next step.