The right to be forgotten: who can use it and how to apply
How GDPR Article 17 and the Google Spain ruling let you delist outdated results about you in the EU and UK, the criteria search engines apply, and what to do after a refusal.
The right to be forgotten lets individuals ask search engines to stop showing results about them that are inaccurate, outdated, irrelevant or excessive.
Legal basis
The 2014 Google Spain ruling of the EU Court of Justice, GDPR Article 17, and the UK GDPR.
Criteria
Age of the information, your public role, accuracy, the harm caused and whether there is still a public interest.
How to apply
List each URL, explain briefly why it is outdated or harmful, submit Google’s personal information removal request, and if refused, complain to your data protection authority or go to court.
We assess which results qualify and prepare the request.
Frequently asked questions
Does it delete the article?
Usually not. It stops the result appearing for searches of your name; the article may remain on the publisher's site.