Right to be forgotten in the EU: what actually qualifies

The right to be forgotten is one of the strongest tools available to European residents managing their online reputation. It is also one of the most misunderstood.

What qualifies

Outdated information, content of no public interest, factually inaccurate material, and information about minors typically qualify. Recent convictions of public figures generally do not.

How the process actually works

A request is filed with the search engine, not with the publisher. If the engine refuses, escalation paths exist through the relevant data protection authority. A well-argued request with proper documentation succeeds far more often than a templated one.