Search Result Suppression, often referred to as "de-indexing" or exercising the "Right to be Forgotten," is a specialized legal service aimed at removing negative, outdated, or irrelevant information about a person from search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo). In the internet age, a person's digital footprint often plays a decisive role in their career advancement, business activities, and personal life. It is common for a scandal from decades ago, a refuted accusation, or simply an embarrassing photo to still appear on the first page of search results, preventing a person from starting life with a clean slate. However, completely deleting information from the source (website) is not always possible or legally justified. In this case, an effective mechanism is to compel search engines not to show specific links in search results when querying the person's name. This is a complex legal process requiring a balance between public interest and personal data protection.
What does the Search Result Suppression service cover?
This service focuses not on the physical destruction of information from the source, but on "hiding" it from the general public eye. Lawyers perform the following actions:
- Legal Audit of Links: Analyzing each negative URL for compliance with Georgian legislation and search engine (Google) policies.
- Preparation of De-indexing Requests: Sending official legal justification to Google and other systems to remove links based on European standards (GDPR) or local legislation.
- Negotiation for No-index Tags: Communicating with website administrators to keep the article on the site (for archives) but add a code command prohibiting robots from indexing it.
- Work with Data Protection Service: Filing a complaint and administrative dispute if the search engine groundlessly refuses to block the information.
- Reputation Management (SERM): Developing a strategy to generate positive content to "push down" the negative, alongside legal measures.
Common Scenarios and Needs
Search result suppression is necessary for the following types of information:
- Spent Convictions: A person who has served their sentence or whose conviction has been expunged, but old police chronicles ("Mugshots") still appear in search.
- Outdated Financial Information: Data about old bankruptcies or debts that have already been settled.
- Invasion of Privacy: Intimate photos, home addresses, phone numbers, or information from when the person was a minor that poses a threat.
- Baseless Accusations: Articles about cases where the person was acquitted, but headlines still appear in an accusatory form.
Georgian Legislation and Regulations
The legal basis for suppressing search results in Georgia is the Law of Georgia on Personal Data Protection. The law grants the data subject the right to demand the blocking, deletion, or destruction of data if it is inaccurate, outdated, or collected in violation of the law. However, the "Right to be Forgotten" is not absolute. It is limited by the Law of Georgia on Freedom of Speech and Expression if the information holds high public interest (e.g., the corrupt past of a politician or public official). When disputing with Google, we often use European case law (the Google Spain case), which Georgian courts and the Personal Data Protection Service adopt as best practice.
Step-by-Step Process
The process begins with detailed monitoring—creating a list of all links damaging the client. The lawyer sorts them into categories: what must be deleted by law and what depends on Google's goodwill. A legal Removal Request Form is prepared, detailing why a specific link violates Georgian legislation. If Google refuses, we appeal to the Personal Data Protection Service, whose decision is binding on any data processor, including search engines.
Why Legal.ge?
Fighting Google is a complex bureaucratic and legal process. Legal.ge offers access to lawyers who know how to substantiate the "Right to be Forgotten" so that the search engine satisfies the request. We do not give false promises, but we use every legal lever to clean up your digital past. Regain control over what people see about you—act with Legal.ge.
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