The controversial ruling passed by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in May states that Google and other search engines will have to restrict displaying certain links as a way to avoid earlier claims that it infringes on an individual's privacy. Search providers should respond promptly when requested to remove the links. They could also be coerced by the law regulators if they are found to resist making initial changes.
Google has already responded to the ruling by removing several thousands of links from its search results in Europe. Some of the sites that were affected include the UK based "Daily Express" and BBC. One article that was confirmed as a "hidden" Google item talks about the conversion of Adam Osborne into a Muslim in 2009.
Wikipedia, which was founded in 2001, is the latest site to be affected by the ECJ's ruling. Jimmy Wales, one of Wikipedia's co-founders, has already condemned the ruling and describes it as insane.
"You do not have a right to use the law to prevent Wikipedia editors from writing truthful information, nor do you have a right to use the law to prevent Google from publishing truthful information," says Wales. He further adds that "Wikipedia can and should work hard to do a good job, just as Google can and should work hard to do a good job."
Out of the more than 90,000 requests made since the ruling took effect in May, Google has already complied with 50,000, turned down 27,000, and is currently studying 13,000 cases. It was France who has made the most number of requests which had already reached 17,500. Other top rankings include Germany (16,500), the UK (12,000), Spain (8,000), Italy (7,500), and the Netherlands (5,500).
Wikipedia is one of the most popular sites on the internet and is ranked as one of the top six. The identity of the individual who requested that the link to the site should be removed hasn't been disclosed. Nevertheless, the request is said to be put into effect within a couple of days.
Google has formed an advisory council which shall decide in handling requests on removing the links. The 10-member council, with Jimmy Wales as one of the members, will travel to Europe to attend a first hearing of the law on Sept. 9 in Madrid. Afterwards, the council shall begin drafting the guidelines on the law's implementation to be used by Google as well as other search engines.
