Google Inc., the online search giant, has convened an expert panel to decide whether to incorporate the ability to eliminate links that users do not want the world to see after the EU ruling regarding the “right to be forgotten”. So, if a user now finds something offensive, they can ask Google to pretend it has no existence on the Internet.
An online form has been devised by Google where users can ask for links to personal posts and data about them to be removed from the search results. The new form, a response to the European Union’s decision, indicates that users have the ability to ask Google to stop linking to anything that they deem “inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant, or excessive in relation to the purposes for which they were processed.”
Once the user submits the links they want removed from the Internet, Google responds by saying that it is going to assess every individual request and try to balance the privacy rights of the individual with the right of the public to know and then distribute the information.
The committee of experts that Google has created will be in charge of making the judgement. Prominent members in the committee will include the Professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Information at the University of Oxford, Luciano Floridi. According to him, the move happened to be an innovative and exciting initiative, which is going to require some extensive philosophical thinking.
In order to prevent users with shady pasts from whitewashing their records, Google promises to consider whether or not the public has any interest in the matter before removing it. The search engine will consider information about financial scams, public conduct of government officials, criminal convictions and professional malpractice.
While asking for the links to be removed from the Internet, the user must supply the URL to Google and state how those particular links relate to them. In order to finalize the request, the user must provide their name, contact, e-mail I.D., as well as a scan of some photo identification. The form also gives users the freedom to make a request on behalf of someone else.
This seems good in some ways but I am wondering if it is prone to being abused.
For example what if some company wants to screw with their competitors and submit a link removal request acting like their competition.
As long as they have some sort of verification process to prove the identity of the person making the request then it should be good.
Good to know this kind of tool exists, Jane.
It should be used with caution, but I think it’s fair that Google finally gives users this possibility.
Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend!
Morning Jane, so you submit links, who then decides that they should be removed, is that Google? and is there a right of appeal if they say NO?
Regards Dexter Roona