The Right to Be Forgotten

The ongoing debate about privacy laws has left me with an overwhelming sense of anxiety about the future of the internet.

Whilst I welcome regulation to better define the parameters around the availability and use of personal information, I'm struggling to understand why the onus to determine the legitimacy of a  data claim has been placed firmly on the publisher or search engine responsible for displaying the content. In giving jurisdiction to the likes of Facebook or Google on these types of matters, what we're effectively asking these companies to do is to perform a judgmental role previously undertaken by the courts.

Looking forward, I'm concerned that the burden of this new found responsibility might compromise the neutrality of these online platforms. In the worst case scenario (where the threat of substantial fines force publishers to err on the side of caution), we may find certain information has been heavily censored or even permanently deleted. This is a terrifying prospect.

I'm not saying we don't deserve a second chance in life, but I do feel that there's an inescapable value to knowing the truth. Warts and all.

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http://www.stanfordlawreview.org/online/privacy-paradox/right-to-be-forgotten