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Google to provide take-down mechanism for private info
2014-05-30 09:07:00| Telecompaper Headlines
(Telecompaper) Google is introducing a mechanism that will allow users in Europe to ask the search engine to remove links that they think are outdated and damaging to their personal privacy. The move follows a ruling by the European Court of Justice recognising the 'right to be forgotten' on search engines if damaging information becomes outdated and does not serve any public interest. CEO Larry Page confirmed the plans in an interview with the Financial Times, saying the system would be similar to Google's existing mechanisms to take down material related to child pornography and copyright infringement. The company also plans a committee made up of mostly outside experts to hold hearings in Europe and advise it on how to deal with its new privacy responsibilities. In the two weeks since the ruling, Google has received "a few thousand" requests from people in Europe to remove links to private information, Page said. A large proportion of the requests have come from public figures trying to have embarrassing personal information removed from the search engine. However, the CEO noted that this kind of information about figures of public interest is not subject to the court ruling. Germany has led in the number of take-down requests, according to information released by Google.
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Category:Telecommunications