From today it is possible to be forgotten on the web: Google provides a form through which European citizens will be able to request the removal of results concerning their person and deemed inappropriate.
The link "of oblivion" comes after the recent sentence of the European Court of Justice. The Court, in fact, a few weeks ago established the right of citizens to have information deemed outdated or inaccurate removed from the web. So Google responded, devising a system aimed at deleting Internet search results deemed inappropriate.
The world's largest search engine, which processes 90 per cent of all web searches in Europe, has announced it has released a web form through which Europeans can request the removal of search engine results. Those who are interested in deleting some data must identify themselves, indicate the links to be removed in relation to a specific search and specify the reason for the removal; to identify themselves, they will have to provide digital copies of an identification document (identity card or driving licence) and the electronic signature of the request will be required. The forms will be analyzed individually by Google employees and not by a software. However, Google does not specify how long it will take for the links to be deleted or the criteria applied.
A first step towards protecting the right to be forgotten on the Internet has been taken.
