Article:  Right2Remove: Bringing the “Right to be Forgotten” to America

Right to be Forgotten on Google

Since the United States has yet to implement a “Right to Be Forgotten” law like the one in Europe, all Americans remain at an increased risk of reputational harm, with few resources available to permanently remove damaging information from Internet search engines.

The Right2Remove movement is trying to change that. Founded by conceptual artist Paolo Cirio in 2016 and directed by blogger and activist Scott Philotoff, Right2Remove advocates for “Right to Remove” privacy policy legislation “that allows for the removal of content from Internet platforms that is designed to cause reputational harm to consumers in the United States.” Their vision is for Congress to introduce a “Right to Remove” bill that can be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission or an independent review panel.

Calling for sweeping change in Internet privacy and online reputation protection

Right2Remove calls for sweeping change in all aspects of Internet privacy and online reputation protection. Most notable is its advocacy for a data privacy law much like Europe’s “Right to be Forgotten,” which would grant individuals clear opt-in and opt-out options for data collection, access to all personal data collected, and the ability to correct inaccurate information and erase outdated or unlawful material, among other freedoms. Right2Remove also wants search engines and platforms to be held responsible for the dissemination of illicit, harmful, and misleading content, and the establishment of an independent, unbiased review panel for adjudicating consumer protection violations on the Internet.

Participate by taking these three actions

What can the Right2Remove do for you right now? It starts with 3 forms:

1.      The “Tell” form. Fill this form out to share personal experiences and stories concerning the need for a Right to Remove privacy policy. By submitting this form, you become part of the growing Right2Remove community, where you’ll have the opportunity to reach out to other community members for support and discussion. This will also get the ball rolling on organizing demonstrations and protests, fundraising, and meetings with the FTC and local officials.

2.      The “Remove” form. Filling out this form will generate an automated takedown letter to send to search engines asking for the removal of sensitive personal information from their search results.

3.      The “Support” form. Fill out this form if you have legal advice, legislation suggestions, technical tutorials, and emotional support to share.

By now, you know that the Internet can be as dangerous for your reputation as it is useful. It is imperative that Internet practices that permit the abuse and misuse of people’s sensitive information be reformed. Everyone has a right to be in control of their online reputation and have a say in what content is posted about them online.

You can read more about Right2Remove’s work here. You can help them directly by supporting their work and signing their petition for a Right to Remove privacy policy.

Related Reading: Can the “Right to be Forgotten” on Google Come to America? 

Online Reputations Are Hampered by Outdated Law

Growing Pains for “Right to Be Forgotten”