Last May Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) was found guilty in European Court of publishing data on Google that was damaging to an individuals reputation. The Court of Justice of the European information started getting quite a few requests back in 2010 to ask Google to take down damaging data from the internet. The verdict came after almost 4 years when last May European Court ruled in people’s favor.
Initially Google dismissed such requests but when the matter was made official by introducing it to the court, Google started taking things a little more seriously. Google previously had argued that the complaints filed by people regarding the removal of malicious data against them were vague and unnecessary. Not only that, it wasn’t entirely possible to remove every little piece of information.
The matter was moved to court and the court ruled against Google citing ‘the right to be forgotten’ law. According to which the citizens of Europe have the rights to demand the removal of data related to them from Google. The debate is divided into two segments: one supporting the people who’re pushing to wipe the data about themselves, and others who are chanting for the freedom of speech, siding with Google.
EU had stated that it had received multitude of complaints from people who were worried about their reputation because of the presence of malicious content about them on Google. EU also stated that the people of Europe deserve a chance to fix everything about them on the internet.
The PR companies who work to protect the reputation of their customers stated that it’s blatant blackmail. Anyone can upload anything against you because of personal vendetta. Most of the things over the internet are incorrect or wrongly used.
It seems that Google has now found a way to deal with the whole situation. Previously Google Inc. was in a fix between two aspects – there was the question regarding the right of the public to obtain information and ‘the right to be forgotten’. Google has now come up with a way where it will hold 7 meetings across Europe to discuss a compromise between the two polar sides.
Google a few months back agreed to cater to the complaints it received and even acted by deleting some data, but the task is too time-consuming and the complaints are stacking day by day. Hence, Google thought it best to croudsource and obtain multiple expert advice to strike a compromise.
The other reason for opting to croudsource is that Google doesn’t
want to deal with the complexities of internet censorship. The attendees of these meetings/conferences will discuss with Google about how they can strike a balance between freedom of speech, public’s right to obtain information and public’s right of privacy.
There are some analysts who are against the ‘right to be forgotten’ law as they think that with this law everyone would be able to get away with wrong doings. A murderer’s past should be known; a thief should not be allowed to deceive people.
These forums, which will be led by Google Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) advisory council and Wikipedia’s founder, will search for a mediatory plan of action to deal with the situation and cater to every legal and moral problem that arises from the whole matter.
