Since Google started handling “right to be
forgotten” requests in 2014, it has deleted about
1.3 million web links from its search results, or
45% of all requests processed, according to the
company’s transparency report.
Takedown requests filed by Europeans are
reviewed by Google staff members, based mainly
in Ireland, who look into whether the webpage
contains sensitive information such as race,
religion or sexual orientation; relates to children
or crimes committed as a minor; or is about old
convictions, acquittals or false accusations.
Last year, Google removed a 1984 German
news article about an individual’s conviction for
hijacking an East German airplane to flee to West
Germany, because it was “very old” and related
to now-repealed laws against illegal emigration.
Pages about a former politician involved in
a drug scandal were deleted because they
disclosed his home address, and links about
convictions for rapes, sexual abuse and aiding
and abetting terrorism were removed because
the offenders had served their sentences.
Google does not remove such material from
all web searches, just when a person’s name is
typed in. The material will still show up when
other search terms are used.
Google says it may reject a delisting request if
the page contains information that is “strongly
in the public interest.” That can include material
on public figures that relates to the person’s
criminal record.
It can also say no if the content consists of
government documents or is “journalistic
in nature.”