Hope for a bit of privacy after all....Google, Bing and the European Court!

Google HQ, USA

Check this out - in a time when the word "privacy" appears to be all but obsolete....where the lack of it for anyone and everyone seem so overwhelming that no one would likely be surprised should applications be made to institutions like the Oxford English Dictionary (and more formally, with the word's equivalent in other languages, to linguistic governing bodies such as the Real Academia in Spain), to have it removed on the basis of being obsolete - a glimmer of hope has appeared!

Coming from no less a formidable body than the EU's European Court of Justice - a ruling of the highest significance, which reaches into every nook and cranny of the internet, no less!

Individuals can now ask Google Inc., as well as other search engines, such as Bing, to remove links to news articles, court judgements and other documents in search results for their name. This is per the European Union's highest court ruling today! A surprise decision that could significantly disrupt how Google and other search-engine operators work across Europe.

The European Court of Justice said that search companies are responsible for personal data that shows up on Web pages they link to in search results. The decision allows individuals to request Google or other search operators to take down links to Web pages that are published by third parties, such as newspapers, containing information relating them when searched by name—such as coverage of court cases or legal announcements.

The Luxembourg-based court said that because search results linked to a person's name have such a huge impact on people's lives, they should have the right to get certain material removed. Of course, there is some ambiguity and room for interpretation in setting the broad parameters of what would be an allowable request. The ECJ said, for example, that a balance needs to be struck between the public interest, especially with people who have a prominent role in society.

Nevertheless, it has to be said that this sounds like a very fair ruling which has the potential to return a bit of privacy to the control of private citizens!