No "Right To Be Forgotten," Says EU Advocate General 116
DW100 writes "A ruling this morning from the European Court of Justice has said that Google does not have to delete personal data from its search index, in a case that could have huge ramifications for web privacy and the so-called 'right to be forgotten.'"
From the article: EU Advocate General Niilo Jääskinen "said Google and other search engines are not subject to privacy requirements under current European data protection law. 'Search engine service providers are not responsible, on the basis of the Data Protection Directive, for personal data appearing on web pages they process,' he said in his official ruling, published by the court. He went on to explain that based on current laws citizens do not have a right to be removed from search indexes within the framework of the Data Protection Directive. 'The Directive does not establish a general "right to be forgotten." Such a right cannot therefore be invoked against search engine service providers on the basis of the Directive,' he said."
Why does the cynic in me. . . (Score:5, Interesting)
A rare outburst of common sense from the EU (Score:4, Interesting)
Now if only they'd stop messing too much with Google (apart from tax issues) and rescind the need for stupid "We're using cookies" splash screens then we'd all be happy Europhiles.
Cease and Desist (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Why does the cynic in me. . . (Score:4, Interesting)
This isn't the Right to be Forgotten. The submitter is confused. The right to be forgotten only lets you delete your own account, not other people's.
Re:Why does the cynic in me. . . (Score:4, Interesting)
Europe has it all backwards. And it's made obvious by statements like this:
He went on to explain that based on current laws citizens do not have a right to be removed from search indexes
Rights are not based on current law. They exist independently of law (or not at all, that's a valid argument too), and current law either respects or violates that right. If someone were to say "based on current law citizens do not have the right to choose their own religion", it would be abundantly clear that "current law" is oppressive.
Either the right to be forgotten exists or it does not. I'd suggest it does not, because it clearly conflicts with my own right to remember, and communicate.