Every C-celebrity knows how important it is to be found quickly by searching the Internet on Google and Co. But there are some entries that those found would prefer to do without because they are harmful to the business or their own reputation.
The Federal Court of Justice has now clarified that search engine operators must delete articles and posts under certain circumstances. However, the complainant must prove that there is no doubt that this is a hoax. Thus, the judges in Karlsruhe rightly attach great importance to freedom of information.
For the plaintiffs in the specific case, this hurdle was too high. They have not been able to properly prove that critical reports about their financial services are untrue. After all, the protection of their privacy is maintained by prohibiting thumbnails without context. This has less to do with the principle of the "right to be forgotten" than simply with the fight against hatred and lies on the Internet.
The "old" guard of Internet companies around Google and Meta learned the hard way before they recognized the value of responsibility and clear rules. It will now be exciting when the new generation of artificial intelligence around ChatGPT reaches these limits.