EU wants to give people power to vanish from Internet

Source: Yahoo

BRUSSELS (AFP) – Europe's justice chief Viviane Reding called Thursday for new rules to give citizens more control of their online personal data, with the "right to be forgotten" from Facebook or Google.

Reding unveiled proposals to update a European Union rule on data protection that dates back to 1995, years before the proliferation of social networking websites and web search engines.

"The protection of personal data is a fundamental right," the European justice commissioner said.

"To guarantee this right, we need clear and consistent data protection rules. We also need to bring our laws up to date with the challenges raised by new technologies and globalisation," she said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101104/tc_afp/euconsumerprivacyjusticedatainternet_20101104165056

There is a lot of stuff online as part of the government record that Facebook/Google have no control over.

Also, how to they expect to enforce this rule?

There is a local firebrand Tea Bagger. He was furious when someone pointed out he his fighting his ex wife over court ordered alimony. He said that it was private. Me I think it goes to credibility (he was being a deadbeat)

If Divorce Decrees can be accessed by the public....then why not other documents....like maybe Birth Certificates?

though the decrees are also public except in exceptional cases

Want to make an argument but too groggy to write something coherent.

I wish we had it. Personal information is far too accessible. Right now one of my friends is depressed because she can't seem to get Facebook stuff to disappear no matter what she does. :thumbsdown:

there's an idea

Don't say stupid stuff on the internet...in a post...with you name and picture and address and email and phone number and ip address and the names of everyone you know attached. Or just change your age to 9 years old on FB and they delete your profile right quick.

You control what you post or put on the internets. It might be hard to get off once you put it there but you only have yourself to blame.

What will European rules mean if the information is on American...or Russian...or Chinese...or Kenyan servers?