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Right To Be Forgotten Google EU

Google begins removing search engine links under 'right to be forgotten' EU ruling

By Angela Haggerty, Reporter

June 26, 2014 | 2 min read

Google has begun removing “irrelevant” results from its search engine following a European Union ruling on the so-called ‘right to be forgotten’.

Process: Google has begun removing links from its search engine

Following the ruling in May, Google quickly set up a web form to allow people to apply for information about them to be removed from its search engine. The move followed a lengthy battle in Europe in which Google argued it was fighting a form of censorship.

The tech giant has now begun processing requests and removing some data.

“This week we’re starting to take action on the removals requests that we’ve received,” a Google spokesman said. “This is a new process for us. Each request has to be assessed individually, and we’re working as quickly as possible to get through the queue.”

On search results where links have been removed, Google will add a footnote to the page saying: “Your results may have been modified under data protection law in Europe.”

Earlier this month, Google boss Larry Page warned that the European ruling could be abused by government and damage start-ups’ future.

Right To Be Forgotten Google EU

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