European Court of Justice orders Google to delete personal data

The European Court of Justice ruled on the 13 May 2014 that citizens have a right to request that Google delete their data from search results in a case that sought to see whether private citizens could leave the engine's grid.

The ECJ ruled that 'an internet search engine operator is responsible for the processing that it carries out of personal data which appear on web pages published by third parties'.

Google said it was looking into the implications of the decision.

Various civil rights organisations were divided on the judgment (ses related url hyperlinks from Index on Censorship, the BBC and EUObserver for further details of reaction).

• Primary Source

ECJ: Press Release, 13.05.14: Judgment in Case C - 131/12 Google Spain SL, Google Inc. v Agencia Española de Protección de Datos http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2014-05/cp140070en.pdf

The New York Times, 13.05.14: Google Must Honor Requests to Delete Links, E.U. Court Says http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/14/technology/google-should-erase-web-links-to-some-personal-data-europes-highest-court-says.html

BBC News, 13.05.14: EU backs 'right to be forgotten' in Google privacy case http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27388289

ESO: Background information: Judgment in ECJ Case C-131/12: Google Spain SL, Google Inc. v Agencia Española de Protección de Datos, Mario Costeja González http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-judgment-in-ecj-case-c-131-12-google-spain-sl-google-inc-v-agencia-espanola-de-proteccion-de-datos-mario-costeja-gonzalez/

El País, 13.05.14: EU court backs 'right to be forgotten' http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/05/13/inenglish/1399975573_645519.html

France24, 13.05.14: Top EU court upholds 'right to be forgotten' on Google http://www.france24.com/en/20140513-top-eu-court-ecj-upholds-right-forgotten-google-data/

The Local.es, 13.05.14: EU backs Spain over 'right to be forgotten' http://www.thelocal.es/20140513/eu-backs-spain-over-right-to-be-forgotten

The Guardian, 13.05.14: EU court backs 'right to be forgotten': Google must amend results on request http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/may/13/right-to-be-forgotten-eu-court-google-search-results

EUObserver, 13.05.14: Google must respect 'right to be forgotten' rules EU court http://euobserver.com/news/124125

EurActiv, 13.05.14: EU court ruling opens door for ‘right to be forgotten’ on the Internet http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/eu-court-ruling-opens-door-right-be-forgotten-internet-302094

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 13.05.14: The CJEU's Google Spain judgment: failing to balance privacy and freedom of expression http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-cjeus-google-spain-judgment-failing.html

Blog: University of Essex: Human Rights Centre, 13.05.14: Google Spain: Straightjacketing the librarian? http://blogs.essex.ac.uk/hrc/2014/05/13/google-spain-straitjacketing-the-librarian/

Deutsche Welle, 13.05.14: Google to 'take time' over privacy ruling http://dw.de/p/1Byyl

Euronews, 13.05.14: EU court says Google must honour ‘right to be forgotten’ http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/13/eu-court-says-google-must-honour-right-to-be-forgotten/

Euro|Topics, 14.05.14: ECJ sets limits for search engines http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER143424-ECJ-sets-limits-for-search-engines

BBC News, 14.05.14: Google: Who would want the right to be forgotten? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27396981

BBC News, 14.05.14: Google ruling 'astonishing', says Wikipedia founder Wales http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27407017

Index on Censorship, 14.05.14: Are search engines the ultimate arbiters of information? http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2014/05/cjeu-closing-open-web/

The Guardian, 14.05.14: Explaining the 'right to be forgotten' – the newest cultural shibboleth http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/may/14/explainer-right-to-be-forgotten-the-newest-cultural-shibboleth

EUObserver, 16.05.14: Google faces no EU-level fines if it ignores 'right to be forgotten' verdict http://euobserver.com/justice/124167

Website: European Digital Rights http://edri.org/

The Guardian, 19.05.14: David Cameron has reservations about 'right to be forgotten' online http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/19/david-cameron-reservations-right-to-be-forgotten-online-google-searches

El País, 19.05.14: How to erase your past from the internet http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/05/19/inenglish/1400521139_597854.html

Spiegel Online International, 20.05.14: Europe: 1, Google: 0: EU Court Ruling a Victory for Privacy http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/court-imposes-right-to-be-forgotten-on-google-search-results-a-970419.html

Index on Censorship: Tag: Right to be forgotten http://www.indexoncensorship.org/tag/right-to-be-forgotten/

The Guardian: Tag: Right to be forgotten http://www.theguardian.com/technology/right-to-be-forgotten

Wikipedia: Right to be forgotten http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_be_forgotten

Data Guidance: 15.05.14: Right to be forgotten enshrined: CJEU ruling 'real game changer' http://www.dataguidance.com/dataguidance_privacy_this_week.asp?id=2413

ESO: Background information: Find further information in ESO on Google and the right to be forgotten judgment http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=google%20right%20forgotten%20&searchOption=all

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