UK Privacy Watchdog: 'Right To Be Forgotten' On the Web Unworkable

An anonymous reader writes "Want to be invisible to Google? Apparently you can't, at least according to the European Commission and Information Commissioner's Office. '"The right to be forgotten worries us as it makes people expect too much," said [deputy commissioner David Smith]. Instead, Smith said the focus should be on the "right to object" to how personal data is used, as this places the onus on businesses to justify the collection and processing of citizens' data. "It is a reversal of the burden of proof system used in the existing process. It will strengthen the person's position but it won't stop people processing their data." EC data protection supervisor Peter Hustinx added the right to be forgotten is currently unworkable as most countries are divided on what qualifies as sensitive personal data. "I believe the right to be forgotten is an overstatement," said Hustinx."

Comments

Re:The world is really small now.

[CanHasDIY]

everything should be opt-in as far as your data is concerned.
The big question is: why isn't it?

Devil's Advocate:

Hey, nobody put a gun to your head and forced you to put your personal information on the internet. Sounds like you "opted in" to me.

forget MS, google. Forget every analytics company. This should be across the board

Again, nobody put a gun to your head and forced you to give personal information to MS and Google. You gave that info willingly by accessing their systems.
 
/Devil's Advocate

Personally, I agree with the idea that "opt-in" should be explicit, rather than implicit. Merely accessing a website should not be an open invitation for the owner of that website to track my every online move, especially if I haven't knowingly and explicitly told them they could (something I'd never do).

they should not be able to refuse you access if you don't opt in

The hell they shouldn't - you don't get access to my house unless I give you a key, and I won't give you a key unless I know you're someone who can be trusted. Granted, that's not exactly the situation here, but close enough for the sake of analogy.

Nobody is obligated to give you anything for free, nor should they be.