20,000 Dutch people apply to be forgotten by Google

GoogleOver 20,000 people in the Netherlands have applied to Google to have certain search results about them removed, 58% of which have been rejected, the internet company said on Thursday.

In 2014, the European court ruled that people have the right ‘to be forgotten’ on the internet and ordered Google to facilitate the removal of links to some information. Reasons for removal include criminal involvement in the past, or information about people’s health and religion.

Google said it has received 348,085 requests in total. Most requests referred to links to Facebook.

In one request received from the Netherlands, Google was asked to remove over 50 links to articles and blog posts reporting on a public outcry over accusations that a man was abusing welfare services. ‘We did not remove the pages from search results,’ Google said.

‘In assessing each request, Google must consider the rights of the individual as well as public interest in the content,’ the company said.

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