Article in the magazine Direito Intelectual

Sofia de Vasconcelos Casimiro analyses the European Union Justice Court ruling on the dispute Mario Costeja González launched against the giant Google, demanding the removal of results from the search engine which were linked to some contents. The article analysis two main essential aspects: (i) search engines and personal data; and (ii) the search engines and responsibility for third party contents. The article, entitled "The law being forgotten by the search engines" was published in the second edition of the magazine Direito Intelectual.

Abstract

This essay briefly examines the ECJ ruling on Internet search engines and their qualification as data controllers in relation to the personal data included in the Web pages they automatically index, temporarily store and subsequently display in their search results, according to a certain order of preference. The exact scope of the impact of this ruling is yet to be unfolded, although it is certain that it disrupts the delicate ecosystem of online service providers, which have recently had other major setbacks. Rather than giving answers, this essay identifies some of the questions which must now be answered in the aftermath of the ECJ ruling.