This document provides information about a case between Spain and Google regarding the "right to be forgotten" and the removal of personal data from internet search results. It summarizes that the Spanish Data Protection Agency ordered Google to remove certain links from its search results relating to a Spanish citizen. Google appealed this order. As a result, the Spanish court requested a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice on whether search engine providers are subject to European data protection laws and if they must honor requests to remove personal data. The outcome of this case could establish an individual's "right to be forgotten" and influence similar cases across the EU.

1. | G l o b a l n e t w o r k o f a t t o r n e y s s p e c i a l i z e d i n e m e r g i n g t e c h n o l o g y l a w

2. | Argentina | Belgium | Brazil I Canada| China I Colombia I France | Germany | Israel | Italy | Luxembourg | Mexico | Morocco | Norway | South Africa | Spain
| Switzerland | Tunisia | United Kingdom | USA
Spain vs. Google
Indexed data from Search Engines and the
Right to be Forgotten
Marc GALLARDO
marc.gallardo@alliantabogados.com
PALO ALTO, MARCH 1, 2013

3. | Spain | Marc GALLARDO | marc.gallardo@alliantabogados.com | www.alliantabogados.com
SPAIN VS. GOOGLE
Page 3
The facts of the case
SO SORRY, WE CAN’T DO IT!
• Publication was done following an order
of a public authority (bad luck).
WRONG PLACE, TRY ELSEWHERE !
• Send a letter to Google Inc. (California)
• Ask the newspaper
YES, WE PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS !
• To ‘La Vanguardia’: “Not Guilty” 
• To Google: “Don’t be evil” 
Do I have the right to require the
removal of data or to object to the
processing of data about me in the
Internet?

4. | Spain | Marc GALLARDO | marc.gallardo@alliantabogados.com | www.alliantabogados.com
SPAIN VS. GOOGLE
Page 4
• Both Google Inc. and Google Spain filed an appeal.
• Not the first time -> to date 130 more cases against Google
Inc. and Google Spain for similar grounds are pending
before the same Court (Audiencia Nacional).
• But this is the first case where the Court decides to
request a preliminary ruling to the ECJ (Case C-131/12 in
progress).
• The DPA’s in France, Italy and Belgium (as mentioned in
the referral) rejected similar claims presented by data
subjects.
• Not a problem for the Spanish DPA!
The Appeal

5. | Spain | Marc GALLARDO | marc.gallardo@alliantabogados.com | www.alliantabogados.com
SPAIN VS. GOOGLE
Page 5
Key questions referred
1
• Is Google subject to EU / Spanish data protection
laws?
2
• Is Google a data controller and directly responsible?
3
• What is the scope of ‘the right to be forgotten’?

6. | Spain | Marc GALLARDO | marc.gallardo@alliantabogados.com | www.alliantabogados.com
SPAIN VS. GOOGLE
Page 6
• Less likely: EU / national data protection laws do not apply
to SEP based outside the EEA.
• More likely: EU / national data protection laws apply and
the crux point will be to decide whether or not SEP are data
controllers and directly responsible for the data processing.
• Even more likely? SEP are fully responsible and data
subjects have the ‘right to be forgotten’.
• The decision itself will constitute a landmark decision in all
EU member States for similar cases sub iudice, companies
providing search engines functionalities or similar devices
and all citizens (data subjects) within the EU.
Possible scenarios and consequences

7. | G l o b a l n e t w o r k o f a t t o r n e y s s p e c i a l i z e d i n e m e r g i n g t e c h n o l o g y l a w
Germany
Buse Heberer Fromm Rechtsanwälte
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Neue Mainzer Strasse 28
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reinmueller@buse.de
www.buse.de
Belgium
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Liège
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Spain
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USA
IT Law Group
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555 Bryant Street #603
Palo Alto, CA 94301
T. 0016 508 04 12 35
F. 0016 507 35 18 01
fgilbert@itlawgroup.com
www.itlawgroup.com
France
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& Frédéric Forster
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Paris
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Israel
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P.O. Box 48193 Malcha
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Italy
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Luxembourg
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Morocco
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Mexico
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Postboks 7086 St. Olavs
pl.
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www.foyen.no
United Kingdom
Preiskel & Co LLP
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5 Fleet Place
London EC4M 7RD
T. 0044 20 7332 5640
F. 0044 20 7332 5641
dpreiskel@preiskel.com
www.preiskel.com
Switzerland
Sébastien Fanti Avocat & Notaire
8B rue de Pré-Fleuri, CP 497
1951 Sion
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F. 0041 27 322 15 70
sebastien.fanti@sebastienfanti.ch
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South Africa
Michalsons
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Johannesburg
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Cape Town
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Tunisia
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http://younsiandyounsilawfirm.e
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Argentina
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Brazil
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Vila Olímpia 04552-000
São Paulo SP
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China
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Shanghai
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Colombia
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