The “right to be forgotten”

The dramatic expansion of the Internet over the past twenty years has presented society with fresh dilemmas regarding the balance of non-absolute fundamental rights such as the right to freedom of expression and the right to privacy and data protection. Alice Pease analyses the recent case of Google Spain, concerning a Spanish citizen’s request to have personal information de-listed from internet search engines. She provides a description of the case, the implications, as well as the controversies, surrounding the ECJ’s ruling on the “right to be forgotten,” specifying in what ways it has ignited an important discussion regarding individuals’ relationship with the Internet.