I spotted a thread that is a common question in the Google Webmaster Help forums about removing content from showing up in Google. The response was even more interesting.
Google's Eric Kuan, from the search quality team said that Google does not control the content on the web.
He wrote:
Google doesn't control the contents of the web, so before you submit a URL removal request, the content on the page has to be removed. There are some exceptions that pertain to personal information that could cause harm. You can find more information about those exceptions here: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2744324.
True, Google cannot control what people publish on the internet but they are the gateway to that content.
I bet many SEOs and webmasters would argue with Google's definition of "control" here.
Forum discussion at Google Webmaster Help.
Image credit to BigStockPhoto for stringed man
