Google Chairman Eric Schmidt and privacy and freedom of information experts on Tuesday held the first of seven public sessions to help the company define a new "Right to be Forgotten" established by the European Union's top court.
Among the key issues is when Google should take down search result links when citizens claim it leads to information about them that is irrelevant or obsolete.
The company has received more than 100,000 requests for takedowns since a May ruling enabled Europeans to ask for the removal of embarrassing personal information that pops up with a search of their names. European regulators expect to release guidelines late next week on applying the decision, said Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, president of the French privacy regulator CNIL and leader of the European umbrella group.
Meanwhile, Schmidt and panel members including Wikimedia founder Jimmy Wales heard differing opinions Tuesday in Madrid from Spanish experts. Google says it is tough with some requests to balance privacy concerns with the public's right to know.
Falque-Pierrotin said coherent guidelines are needed, but privacy regulators declined an invitation to join Google's panels.
"Google asked us to join as experts. We are not experts — we are regulators," she said from Paris. "We also want to hear other points of view and we will have our own consultation process."
Among the key issues is when Google should take down search result links when citizens claim it leads to information about them that is irrelevant or obsolete.
The company has received more than 100,000 requests for takedowns since a May ruling enabled Europeans to ask for the removal of embarrassing personal information that pops up with a search of their names. European regulators expect to release guidelines late next week on applying the decision, said Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, president of the French privacy regulator CNIL and leader of the European umbrella group.
Meanwhile, Schmidt and panel members including Wikimedia founder Jimmy Wales heard differing opinions Tuesday in Madrid from Spanish experts. Google says it is tough with some requests to balance privacy concerns with the public's right to know.
Falque-Pierrotin said coherent guidelines are needed, but privacy regulators declined an invitation to join Google's panels.
"Google asked us to join as experts. We are not experts — we are regulators," she said from Paris. "We also want to hear other points of view and we will have our own consultation process."
