Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), individuals in the EU can request that search engines remove specific results linked to their name. This right applies primarily to search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing operating under EU law, rather than to social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook or YouTube, which are subject to separate regulations.
It is important to note that this process only delists URLs from search results; it does not erase the original content from its source. This means that while the information becomes much harder to find via EU-targeted searches, it remains accessible through direct links or via alternative search engines.
The decision to delist content is based on a legal balancing test. The content must be ‘inadequate, irrelevant, outdated or excessive’, and the assessment weighs your privacy rights against the public interest and freedom of expression, rather than being solely based on personal preference.
To exercise this right, search for your name on a compliant search engine – such as Google. If you find results you believe meet the criteria, you can submit a free request via the search engine’s dedicated form, including a list of URLs and a copy of your identification (with sensitive details masked, where possible). Should your request be denied, you have the option to escalate the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office, although this process can be lengthy and may lead to further appeals.
One limitation of this approach is that it can be easily bypassed. Users outside the EU or those using non-compliant search engines may still access the content.
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