Google Faces Court Over Refusal to Remove Search Results in Canada

Canada's privacy watchdog is taking Google to court over its refusal to de-list specific search results. The case, which began in 2017, involves articles about a criminal charge that was dropped, causing harm to the individual involved.

The privacy commissioner, Philippe Dufresne, had recommended that Google remove these articles from search results for the individual's name, but not entirely remove them from online availability. However, Google refused to comply with this recommendation.

As a result, the privacy watchdog has filed an application with the Federal Court, asking it to enforce its recommendations and require Google to de-list the search results. This is because Canadians have a right to have certain information about themselves removed in limited circumstances, according to the investigation.

Google maintains that this case raises issues around freedom of expression that were not addressed by the courts and that consideration of a 'right to be forgotten' must be balanced with these rights. The court filing notes that in the European Union, where privacy law includes the right to erasure, Google has de-listed over three million web pages since 2014.