Gizmoids

Google ordered to remove links under U.K.’s “Right to be Forgotten” law

Saeed Akhtar

Google headquarters, Central Saint Giles, Covent Garden, London, Britain - 06 Aug 2012...Must credit PENSON/Rex Features Mandatory Credit: Photo by PENSON / Rex Features (1811356a) A Peek Inside Google's London Headquarters It features a secret garden, 'Granny flat' interiors and an allotment - welcome to Google's new London headquarters. The 160,000 sq ft hub features cutting-edge design that offers a quirky take on the traditional office. Occupying half of the ultra-modern Central Saint Giles development in Covent Garden over five floors, renowned interior designers PENSON were given the task of creating a vibrant workspace. The result is amazing variation of work and lounging space which finds room for 1,250 non-traditional desks. A space called Granny's Flat is furnished with chintzy chairs and fittings that wouldn't look out of place in an elderly relative's lounge, while the Lala Library hosts a giant semi-circle white sofa adorned with pillows and surrounded by arty and inspirational books. Surreal workspaces have tongue-in-cheek names such as the Velourmptious snug, a green, padded homage to the traditional British pub, and Snug-lushness, a garish flower-print padded bench seat. An area dubbed the Town Hall allows seating for 200 people and features velvet curtains, exposed ceilings and a video wall, while the Market Square is a rustic cafeteria area. For active staff members there is a gym and dance studio, a 'bikedry' for cycling gear storage and a shower block for those sweaty from the morning workout, cycle or commute. For those really wanting to escape the office, a 'Hedge Your Bets' secret garden on the roof terrace affords stunning views of London surrounded by grass and foliage - all with wi-fi connection for laptop work. Eco considerations are at the forefront of design with a high content of reclaimed or recycled materials employed and the use of water-based products and timber floor boards with Eco plywood perimeter

Google just can’t catch a break in Europe. The search engine giant has been fighting a long war with the European authorities over the removal of website links to stories that contain irrelevant or outdated information about certain persons under the “right to be forgotten” rule.

Now the United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has explicitly ordered Google to remove links to nine news stories with “older reports.” According to the ICO, when searching for an individual’s name, previously removed results should be completely erased from the Internet’s history, which makes these news stories subject to removal as well. Google has been given a 35-day deadline to comply with the ruling, but it still has the right to appeal the order.

Google initially refused to comply with the European Union’s “right to be forgotten” law, explaining that the censorship of this content is “a matter of significant public importance.” Ironically, the IOC actually agrees with it, but goes on to extend the caveat that the specific case in question is hanging a non-public figure’s laundry out to dry for no good reason. “Content relating to the decisions to delist search results may be newsworthy and in the public interest,” the Commissioner’s Office writes. “However, that interest can be adequately and properly met without a search made on the basis of the complainant’s name.”

google eu uk right forgotten

In its original guise, the “right-to-be-forgotten” law only applied to old information. With its new ruling, the ICO has now asserted its authority to block Google from showing links to contemporary articles that contain truthful speech about controversial public disputes. Not only does the government want to implement the right to be forgotten; it wants to erase evidence of the fact that it has implemented the policy. That’s an unsettling new leap for a right that was initially pitched as a modest privacy measure.

Still, the silver lining here, at least from Google’s perspective, is that no European government can force Google to alter results on its American search engine. Despite decisions by the ECJ and the ICO, Google users around the world need only head over to American Google to get uncensored information.

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