Google: Have the link deleted

On May 13, 2014, EU judges passed an important judgment against Google: You can have links deleted under certain conditions! You can find out what these are and how it works below.

Submit a deletion request to Google

• The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on May 13, 2014 that Google must delete personal search results if they violate or restrict personal rights.
• The Spaniard Mario Costeja González had sued because a 15-year-old article about a foreclosure of his former house appeared on a Google search for his name. However, the garnishment on which the underlying was based had long since been completed and paid off.
• What you can now do to have a Google search result deleted is to first submit a corresponding application to Google. Since the end of May, Google itself has provided an application form for deleting personal search results.
• Alternative: You can find a form for deleting Google search results here.
• You should send this application to Google in two ways if possible and enclose proof of identity such as a copy of your ID card. Google itself also needs a copy of your ID card in its application form.
• You can either send the papers to Google by email - preferably by email to the address - or by fax to +49 40-4921-9194. With the direct Google application you will receive a mail confirmation.
• In addition, this can also be done by post or through an applied bailiff - but this costs something. Both of these only make sense if Google should not confirm the deletion order you entered directly here.

Conclusion: have Google links deleted - there is still confusion

Google itself has not yet published clear guidelines according to which links can be deleted. The search engine only indicates that it can delete links - and must do so in court orders - but that the relevant websites will still be online. Only the search for them is made difficult. The only thing that is certain is that courts and lawyers will continue to deal with individual cases. Because, according to the BBC, politicians have already requested that negative headlines regarding their names be deleted from the list of Google search results. And a pedophile no longer wanted his conviction reported. It remains to be seen how this will be decided in individual cases and where the limits are. In case of doubt, you should therefore seek legal advice.

All important links to the EU can be found here - as far as Google does not have to delete them! And to loosen things up a bit: You will find the funniest Google search results on good luck in the next practical tip.