Google has begun the process of complying
with the EU’s recent “right to be forgotten”
ruling, launching a new webform where
European citizens can request the removal of
search results.
The online form is applicable to search results
(not the content itself) that individuals think
contain information that is "irrelevant,
outdated or otherwise inappropriate".
Google says that since the ruling was
announced they have received thousands of
requests, with some of the first reported cases
including a scandal-hit politician, a
paedophile convicted of possessing images of
child abuse and a doctor who wanted negative
reviews of his practice removed.
Google has stressed that this process is entirely
new for search engines and that they will have
to work hard to strike a balance between
allowing individuals control of their online
presentation and ensuring that the system is
not abused to remove stories in the public
interest. To this end it has created an expert advisory
committee to develop its approach and
navigate both the ethical and legal challenges
of the ruling.
The committee will be co-chaired by Google’s
chairman Eric Schmidt and its chief legal
counsel David Drummond. Wikipedia founder
Jimmy Wales and the UN’s special rapporteur
on freedom of expression Frank La Rue will
also sit on the board.
“The court’s ruling requires Google to make
difficult judgments about an individual’s right
to be forgotten and the public’s right to know,”
said a Google spokesperson.
“We’re creating an expert advisory committee
to take a thorough look at these issues. We’ll
also be working with data protection
authorities and others as we implement this
ruling.”
Requests submitted through the newly-
launched form will be considered on a case by
case basis with individuals requested to
include a copy of official identification such as
a local driver’s licence. Requests can also be
submitted on behalf of the individual by an
attorney or other representative.
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