X-13 Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 [spin-off thread to preserve original as documentation... but I couldn't let it stand without poking the bear a little.] Hi guys, our school had a scandal a few years back and I have been requested to remove a link from a google search. The links won't be removed. If it was a false allegation, it means it isn't your job to ask for it to be removed. It's for the person involved to do it. [iIRC, the request has to come from the person it's about.] If it was true, it's in the public interest. The "right to be forgotten" isn't for people to cover up past crimes.
LeMarchand Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 The "right to be forgotten" isn't for people to cover up past crimes. I thought that was exactly what it was for? Wasn't the original case some chap who'd had problems in the past claiming a search on his name still showed said problems and so were hurting his current business? No time to check, but I thought I'd read that Google got into trouble for removing links to stories as part of a protest against the law. I can't see why there's a problem with them choosing what to link to (it's their ball park) when whoever has the most expensive layers can request take downs.
X-13 Posted July 16, 2014 Author Posted July 16, 2014 Wasn't the original case some chap who'd had problems in the past claiming a search on his name still showed said problems and so were hurting his current business? If it's what I'm thinking of, it wasn't HIS crimes. Just someone with the same name. And it was search suggestions alleging fraud. And google told him to suck it up.
LeMarchand Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 We may be thinking of different stories (or one of the writers got their facts wrong!). Here's the one I read. Rather amusingly searching on the guy's name brings up a load of news stories about the new ruling, most of which explain why he sought it!
X-13 Posted July 16, 2014 Author Posted July 16, 2014 We may be thinking of different stories (or one of the writers got their facts wrong!). Here's the one I read. Rather amusingly searching on the guy's name brings up a load of news stories about the new ruling, most of which explain why he sought it! Yeah, we're thinking different stories. As I was reading it, I was thinking the same thing. Streisand Effect in action.
Arreks Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 It depends on the 'content' of the link, obviously if it's related to anything illegal then it will be removed ie. personal data or copyright infringement etc.. but short of that, I'm afraid not. Google will never remove a link unless they're legally bound to.
JJonas Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 There is a website out there that lists the sites and stories Google have removed from their searches under "the right to be forgotten" so there is the Streisand effect in operation.
localzuk Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 Seems people are mixing up a variety of laws and rulings here. A person is entitled to have a link removed from searches if it is deemed that it breaches their right to private life, and it is deemed to no longer for it to be in the public interest. If it is a business/school, I don't think it applies at all - it isn't personal information, so isn't covered by data protection laws and human rights laws. Google got in trouble for handling its requests for take-downs with too much vigour - their test for public interest was heavily biased against keeping links, so as to protest the law. So, regarding the OP's point, they are correct that the links wouldn't be removed as it would only be at the request of a named individual, and mustn't be against the public interest to remove the link.
X-13 Posted July 16, 2014 Author Posted July 16, 2014 regarding the OP's point, they are correct I'm correct quite a bit these days... I think I broke something. 1
Heebeejeebee Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 The 'right to be forgotten' law doesn't only affect Google although you'd think they were the only one it applies to based on coverage of the law. Google is specifically mentioned but the law applies to all search engines (http://ec.europa.eu/justice/data-protection/files/factsheets/factsheet_data_protection_en.pdf). Where are the other sites take down request pages? HBJB
russdev Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 (edited) What is interesting is if you search for "russell dyas" they say something has been removed. As I have not asked for anything to be removed I have now no way of knowing what/who.. I did do a comparison search on google.com to see if could see anything but nothing jumped out. Russell Edited July 16, 2014 by russdev
Joanne Posted July 17, 2014 Posted July 17, 2014 Only just seen this... the news story was for some kids that had drugs at school. They were 9. They were suspended at the time and it was 4 years ago. Requested a Daily Fail article to be removed from the search... SO YAAAHHHH
pete Posted July 17, 2014 Posted July 17, 2014 Only just seen this... the news story was for some kids that had drugs at school. They were 9. They were suspended at the time and it was 4 years ago. Requested a Daily Fail article to be removed from the search... SO YAAAHHHH Were I sending a kid to your school, I'd probably want to know about that. Not because "OMG Drugs!" (kids do dumb things, school is an environment in which to do them relatively safely), but I'd want to see how you handled the incident and whether it was a recurring theme. So it's kinda in the public interest.
Joanne Posted July 18, 2014 Posted July 18, 2014 Since then there have been a lot of staff changes at the school. I'm just doing what I'm told and I personally think all Daily Mail articles should be removed from Google searches.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now