TECHNOLOGY giant Google has launched a new system that allows web users to request information about them be removed from search results in the wake of the "right to be forgotten" ruling.
Two weeks ago, a European court ruled that internet users in Europe had the right to request information that they deemed damaging or a breach of privacy be removed from the results of searches with services like Google.
The ruling has sparked a debate over the need for balance between the "right to be forgotten" and the "right to know" and freedom of expression.
The California-based search engine has now introduced an online form that enables web users to submit requests for information to be removed.
The form is available to Europeans from the support section of the Google legal site. Users then list the URL addresses they would like to see removed from searches linked to them.
The form asks for personal information as well as proof of ID in order to prevent any fraudulent requests.
A Google spokesman said: "The court's ruling requires us to make difficult judgments about an individual's right to be forgotten and the public's right to know.
"We're creating an expert advisory committee to take a thorough look at these issues. We'll also be working with data protection authorities as we implement this."
Google also confirmed that requests would be rejected if information was felt to be "in the public interest."
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article