THE SWEDISH DPA FINES GOOGLE 75 MILLION SWEDISH KRONOR FOR ITS GDPR BREACH

12 March 2020

The Swedish Data Protection Authority (“DPA”) fined Google 75 million Swedish Kronor (around 7 million Euro) because it had not performed its obligation related with the right to request delisting.

The Swedish Authority launched an investigation about how Google handles individuals’ right to have search result listings for searches that includes their name removed from Google’s search engine in case of for example lack of accuracy, relevance or if considered superfluous. In the end of the investigation it was found that a number of search result listing should be removed.

However, because Google had not fulfilled the order, the DPA started an investigation again and fined Google.  It was stated by the DPA that an important part of the rights of individuals strengthens by the GDPR is the possibility for individuals to have their search result delisted.

In the present case, when Google removes a search result listing, it notifies the website to which the link is directed in a way that gives the site-owner knowledge of which webpage link was removed and who was behind the delisting request. This allows the site-owner to re-publish the webpage in question on another web address that will then be displayed in a Google search.

You can reach the text of the decision here.

Should you have any queries and/or remarks, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards,

Zumbul Attorneys-at-Law

info@zumbul.av.tr