"Right to Be Forgotten" Decision Supports Global Free Speech.

Hello. I'm feeling pretty low energy today, so let's just get right into this. Back in 2014, a whopping FIVE years ago (is it permissible to feel old at 20? even if not, I still do), the EU released a new standard to allow individuals in EU countries to demand search results containing damning but not crucial to the public interest to be removed from the internet. However, a large discussion has surrounded whether these results should be removed just in EU countries, or applied globally. 

to remove or not to remove, that is the question (see link for source)

Today, a court in Europe ruled that the EU "right to be forgotten" policy shall only apply to internet users within EU states. Google had long been using a 'geoblock' feature that based on your geographic location, certain search results would or wouldn't be omitted. However, the CNIL (Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés) was let's just say, not cool with this. They figured it would be easier to just get rid of the search results from all of Google, and that the only way to really make sure a certain person's reputation is protected is to get rid of search results on that level, so they sued the Google over it. 

The courts didn't go for this argument, and ruled that while all domains within the EU need to comply with the "right to be forgotten" policy, that coverage will not extend beyond those domains. Here's a direct quote from the ruling: "it should be emphasized that numerous third States do not recognize the right to de-referencing or have a different approach to that right".

if you didn't know, now you know (see link for source)

So, the decision's been made, which is certainly a win for Google. However, in theory it is also a win for free speech. This decision, while protecting the decision of EU members, does not infringe upon the information and speech available to the rest of the world. While yes, this information available abroad has been deemed non-relevant to the public interest if it has earned removal from EU domains, it is still a really important thing that states outside the EU have the right to access that information regardless. Leaving the decision up to individual states as to how to handle this situation is most beneficial for the public and its role in managing the impacts of our highly connected landscape that's emerged. Woohoo on that. Later for now. 

Origin Intel For This Post, Because I'm Too Poor To Even Entertain The IDEA of Plagiarism:

NPR ARTICLE