The Right To Be Forgotten On Google
Google And The Right To Be Forgotten
Do you have the right to be forgotten on Google? Quick answer is: it depends on where you live!
The “right to be forgotten” is a concept that encourages people to request that their personal data be removed from the Internet, especially from large online databases like Whitepages, MyLife, USPhonebook, and BeenVerified.
According to the European Union (EU) legislation, the ” right to erasure ” is also known as the “right to be forgotten.” When it comes to erasing an individual’s private data from search engines’ results, this has to be done in a tangible way to ensure the content is wholly erased and not just set to private.
Make no mistake, though. The right to be forgotten on Google and general data protection regulation are problems that affect people outside the European Union.
Issues regarding the right to sensitive information privacy are also prevalent in the United States, where we struggle to eliminate online data that infringes on our fundamental rights regarding privacy. You should know that the Freedom of Information Act protects nearly every website with personally identifiable information online.
Everyone Googles Everyone’s Personal Data
Regarding Google and the right to be forgotten, doesn’t it seem like online privacy violations are some of the most common topics discussed in the media nowadays?
After all, some still remember Google’s massive security violation, which caused a major data breach, and many clients ended up with hacked bank accounts. Or Edward Snowden, a former computer intelligence consultant, copied and leaked highly classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA)?
Internet privacy and the improper use of our online data are obviously becoming massive problems both in our country and around the world. We must all pay attention to them.
Courts’ Views On Data Protection
Obviously, with all these safety problems, many people are left questioning just how much privacy they have in this digital era. Is losing our privacy the price we must pay to get innovative technologies?
In reality, Google is under scrutiny for many of its practices for collecting information from its customers, with courts from different countries establishing legislation that protects users’ personal information.
Google’s Attempt To Combat The Right To Be Forgotten
Over the years, Google has dealt with many lawsuits regarding the search engine’s use of consumer-sensitive information.
Whether it was a plastic surgeon accused of malpractice or a high-school principal who got into trouble for urinating in public, Google was forced to “eliminate” these incidents’ unflattering results. Google defended itself by arguing that it only indexes information already available online.
Another controversial Google policy is that if people want hyperlinks removed from the web, they should contact the initial source who posted them.
Despite its efforts, Google is not entirely off the hook. This is why today if a user needs a hyperlink or picture taken down, they can go to court and obtain a legitimate petition, which Google has to honor.
The sole exception is when the individual seeking the information to be removed is a public figure, like a politician. In these cases, courts usually rule that this sort of content is of public interest, and needs to be accessible to everyone, therefore cannot be altered.
The Backlash Regarding The Right To Be Forgotten On Google
When you think about Google and the right to be forgotten, ask yourself, where does our need to search for information overcome our right to privacy?
On one hand, we are revolted by the idea that every personal aspect of our lives might be recorded and shared online. But at the same time, we believe that we have the right to know when a physician is accused of malpractice or when someone who is working closely with our kids is convicted of a massive offense.
For now, what the European Court of Justice has decided regarding Google and the right to be forgotten won’t affect how Google operates in the USA. Nonetheless, this will be quite a hot topic for a long time.
Ultimately, what is more important: a person’s right to online privacy? Or the internet users’ right to freedom of expression and access to information?
Contact us to find out more about internet privacy and how to stay safe when surfing online.
