- Enforcing jurisdiction
- Belgium · Geography does not establish applicable law.
- Confirmed applicable legislation
- Privacy topics
Google – Order (Belgium, 2020)
Privacy enforcement record
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Google initially refused to remove a person's name from search results but later decided to do so after a complaint. The Belgian data protection authority confirmed that the decision to remove the link should not affect the case's outcome. This ruling shows that companies must still comply with data protection requests, even if they eventually take action.
What happened
Google refused to delist a person's name from search results but later removed the links after a complaint.
Who was affected
The individual whose name was requested to be delisted from Google's search results.
What the authority found
The authority dismissed the case, stating that Google's later decision to remove the link did not affect the legal evaluation.
Why this matters
This case highlights that companies must handle data removal requests properly and cannot rely on later actions to avoid accountability. It serves as a reminder for businesses to be proactive in addressing privacy concerns.
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Automated check recorded — 18 March 2026.
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The complainant requested Google to delist his name on the search results and Google refused in the first place. After second assessment, the specialized team of Google decided to removre th e links after a complaint has been filed. The DPA confirms that whether or not it would adopt a decision should not be dependent on the fact that Google decided to remove the link, or that the parties agreed on the outcome during the procedure. However, considering the lack of facts, the litigation chamber decided to dismiss the case.
Outcome
Order
A binding order requiring the controller to take specific action.
Related Enforcement Actions (0)
No other enforcement actions found for Google in BE
This is the only recorded action for this entity in this jurisdiction.
Details
Order Date
22 September 2020
Authority
Autorité de Protection des Données
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. Google - Belgium (2020). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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