The Wall Street Journal – Europe’s highest court forces Google to become a Web censor. Even as authoritarian regimes try to assert more control over the Internet, another threat to Web freedom has emerged from Europe’s highest court, which on Tuesday issued a sweeping ruling that conscripts search engines as censors and obstructs the free flow of information. Brace yourself for an Internet with borders.
The European Court of Justice’s directive enables individuals in the EU’s 28 member states to demand that search engines and other content “controllers” including social media platforms remove links to Web pages that don’t serve a public interest. For instance, an intoxicated selfie on Facebook, FB -1.00% old bankruptcy records or a vindictive blog by an ex-spouse. The goal is to allow Europeans to create an eternal sunshine of a spotless Web.
