Google’s search engine is covered by federal privacy law, opening the door for people to demand to have their names be made unsearchable
  • The Federal Court of Appeal in Canada ruled that Google's search engine is subject to federal privacy law.
  • This ruling opens the possibility for Canadians to request a "right to be forgotten," making their names unsearchable.
  • The case began with a complaint in 2017 from an individual who suffered personal harm due to outdated and inaccurate information about him on the internet.
  • Google argued it acts as an intermediary like libraries or convenience stores, while media organizations supported Google's role in disseminating news.
  • The Privacy Commissioner can now review complaints and recommend delisting names from Google's search engine, potentially heading to the Supreme Court of Canada.