In today’s world, where information spreads incredibly quickly, the European Union is struggling with a serious problem: disinformation, hate speech and media manipulation. These phenomena pose a serious threat to human dignity, the right to a good name and information integrity.
The Case of Robert Szustkowski – on the Difficulties of Restoring a Good Name
The story of Robert Szustkowski, a businessman who fell victim to defamation in the media, shows how important this issue is. Despite winning court cases, false accusations continue to circulate online, damaging his reputation and affecting his personal and professional life. Szustkowski’s case illustrates how easy it is to damage someone’s good name these days and how difficult it is to restore it.
Call for new rules to protect against disinformation
In response to his experiences, Szustkowski has written an open letter to Executive Vice-President Vera Jourová and Commissioner Didier Reynders, calling on the European Commission to introduce new rules. In particular, Szustkowski suggests that the European Commission should:
Introduce clear guidelines for media publishers, establishing standardised procedures for handling personal data, ensuring the accuracy and transparency of decisions to remove data.
Implement a standard form for reporting disinformation, through which individuals can request the removal of inaccurate or defamatory information.
Ensure that information about breaches is publicly available, thereby raising awareness of personal data breaches.
Source: https://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/polish-businessman-calls-for-enhanced-reputation-and-image-rights-in-eu/