Merrell Strategy Sponsors Right To Be Forgotten USA Legislation

New York, NY – March 20, 2024 - Merrell Strategy sponsors America version of European “Right To Be Forgotten” legislation to protect privacy.

Merrell Strategy has sponsored a “think tank” of top civil rights lawyers to create an American version of the European “Right to be Forgotten legislation.

The European "Right to be Forgotten" is a legal principle established under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that grants individuals the right to request the removal of personal information from the internet. This right is aimed at protecting privacy and personal data by allowing individuals to ask search engines, social media platforms, and other data controllers to erase data that is no longer necessary, relevant, or accurate. The regulation ensures that individuals can control their digital footprint, particularly when the information might be outdated, irrelevant, or potentially harmful.

However, the right is not absolute and must be balanced against other fundamental rights, such as the freedom of expression and information. Consequently, each request is subject to a case-by-case assessment to determine whether the public interest in maintaining the information outweighs the individual's right to privacy. Annually, Google receives over 100,000 requests under the scheme, in Europe and removes the content of roughly half.

While various organizations have attempted to bring similar regulations to the United States, to date all have been thwarted by First Amendment challenges. However, head of Merrell Strategy and founding member of the Right To Be Forgotten USA non-profit and think tank explains, “The First Amendment must be protected, but the right to be free from harassment and right to privacy are in our opinions, basic human rights. Our challenge is to find a way to honor and protect both.”

Research has begin with a public interest website to be launched in July 2024 and the first symposium to be held in August 2024.

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