It has made available an online form through which users can submit their requests, but has not specified when it will remove links that meet the criteria for removal
Google Inc has introduced a service through which European citizens can request the removal of links to material they object to from search results, taking the first step towards complying with a ruling by the European Union's top court recognizing the "right to be forgotten.".
The world's largest Internet search engine, which processes more than 90% of all online searches made in Europe, announced yesterday, Thursday, that it has made available an electronic form through which users can submit their requests, but did not specify when it will remove links that meet the criteria for removal.
Google also announced that it has created a committee of senior Google executives and independent experts to try to work out a long-term approach to dealing with the barrage of applications expected from Europe.
"In implementing the court decision, we will evaluate each individual request and seek to balance the individual's right to privacy with the public's right to know and distribute information," states the electronic form made available by Google yesterday.
Google states in the form in question that, when reviewing requests, it will consider whether the results include outdated information about a person, as well as whether there is a public interest in the information, such as in cases of information about professional negligence, criminal convictions, and the public conduct of government officials.
The form includes space for users to list the links they want removed and a space to explain why the link is "irrelevant, outdated or otherwise inappropriate.".
Source: protothema.gr
