Microsoft Corp. launched an online form Wednesday that will comply with the European Court of Justice's (ECJ) ruling for European citizens to have the 'right to be forgotten' (rtbf).
The new form will let users of the software company's Bing search engine request for information from search results involving their name to be removed if it is irrelevant or outdated, according to TechCrunch.
Microsoft's decision follows Google's move to give Internet users in Europe the same option. Since launching its own removal form at the end of May, the search giant has received over 70,000 requests from individuals who wanted links about them to be taken down.
In addition to providing users with rtbf webforms, Microsoft said it is looking to study the amount of requests it receives before implementing requests for taking down information, the Wall Street Journal reported.
When filling out the webform, a rtbf requester will be asked if he/she is "a public figure (politician, celebrity, etc.) or if he/she plays a role of "leadership, trust or safety" in a local community.
Requesters are also asked to be specific about why they want certain information to be removed, and will have to identify it as "Inaccurate or false", "Incomplete or inadequate", "Out-of-date or no longer relevant" or "Excessive or otherwise inappropriate", TechCrunch reported.
"This information will help us to consider the balance between your individual privacy interest and the public interest in protecting free expression and the free availability of information, consistent with European law," Microsoft said.
The company added that it might make changes to its form and processes, and that it will "reevaluate" submissions based on "additional guidance" for how the ECJ's ruling should be put into effect.
"We continue to work out the details of the process we'll use to evaluate the requests," Microsoft said in an email.
The Redmond, Washington-based company said its form is only available for European citizens, and that granted requests will only be for "search results on Bing in response to searches on your name," the Wall Street Journal reported.
Microsoft did not mention how many rtbf requests it has received so far.
