The European Union is working to combat disinformation, hate speech and media manipulation, which threaten fundamental values such as dignity and the right to a good name. As the global information network grows, the need to better protect EU citizens from these threats grows.
The evolution of the “Right to be Forgotten”
One proposal is to extend the “right to be forgotten,” which currently allows for the deletion of personal data under certain conditions. Supporters want the law to also cover media outlets, making them liable for the personal data and information related to it that they publish, especially if it is defamatory or misleading.
Robert Szustkowski and his fight for protecting a good name
Robert Szustkowski, a businessman who has repeatedly experienced defamation from the media, is one of the main advocates of this change. Although Szustkowski has repeatedly proven his point in court, false accusations still persist in the public sphere, contributing to the destruction of Szustkowski’s reputation. The businessman has written an open letter to the European Commission, calling for the right to be forgotten to be extended to include media organisations. According to Szustkowski, such an extension is necessary to effectively protect EU citizens from threats such as disinformation on a wider scale. Extending the “right to be forgotten” could significantly impact the protection of EU citizens by improving the substantive quality of information publicly available.
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