French reject Google appeal on 'right to be forgotten'

French data privacy agency Cnil has rejected Google’s informal appeal against the regulator's notice requesting the company apply delisting on all of its domain names under the European Court of Justice’s ‘right to be forgotten’ ruling of May 2014. After Google received several tens of thousands of requests from citizens to remove search results based on their name, it delisted some results at Google.fr, Google.es, Google.co.uk and other European extensions. 

However it did not delist them from Google.com or other extensions that any internet users could visit. Cnil therefore put Google on notice in May this year to delist on all of its domain names. Google replied by filing an informal appeal asking Cnil to withdraw its formal notice. The company argued that it would impede the public’s right to information and would be a form of censorship. 

Cnil said its decision does not show any willingness on its part to apply French law extra-territorially, but requests full observance of EU legislation by non-European players offering their services in Europe. Since the informal appeal has been rejected, the company must now comply with the formal notice. Otherwise, the president of the Cnil may designate a rapporteur who may refer to the Cnil’s sanctions committee for a ruling on the case.