Google’s ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ – A Quick Q&A

So you’ve probably heard a ton about the new ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ initiative laid out by the European Union, which for the most part simply means that anyone now has the right to request Google to remove anything they choose that concerns them or is their property. It sounds like a pretty colossal and important leap forward for privacy and the protection of personal data, but it’s not until you look a little closer at the scheme that you realise it’s actually rather on the limited side.   From the information released to date, here’s a look at few answers to some of the most pressing questions on the initiative:Question – Does the act mean than everyone in the EU now has the right to have information removed at their request?Sadly, the answer is no. Despite what various headlines and articles may have had you think, the Right to be Forgotten initiative basically means everyone in the EU has the right to ask for stuff to be removed by Google and Co. As such, there’s technically nothing to say the request will be granted and that the information will be fully removed.Question – How are requests for information removal made?Google has just introduced a new system whereby such requests have been made, but the rest of the world’s major search engines must be contacted by other means. The act states that direct requests must be made, but doesn’t outline how they should be made.Question – Will criminals be able to make data removal requests to hide their past crimes?This remains unclear – there have already been several high-profile requests from convicted pedophiles looking to have detrimental reports and data removed from the web entirely. As it’s important to maintain a constant balance between data protection and the public’s general right to know in the name of safety, it’s likely to prove a tricky issue.Question – Who makes the final decision on whether or not content gets taken down?The search engine contacted by the individual in question will make the decision as to whether the data will be removed and to what extent. They don’t necessarily have to agree to the request, which is likely to see a fair few cases brought to the court’s attention.Question – How can a person appeal if their request is rejected?The notes from the EU ruling state that when and where the requesting party is not happy with the outcome or the response, they can file an appeal with the appropriate governing body in their respective EU country of residence.Question – If a person makes an appeal, will their information definitely be removed?The answer is no as all such cases will be judged individually and decisions made in accordance with their nature and circumstances. The EU’s court documents explain that data will not be taken down should it be in any way deemed necessary for the “preponderant interest of the general public in having, on account of its inclusion in the list of results, access to the information in question.”