// Netherlands · Review removal
Court Blocks Legal Advisor's Bid to Unmask Negative Reviewers
Rechtbank Rotterdam ·
ECLI:NL:RBROT:2025:7729
The case
A legal advisor sought user data from Google Ireland Ltd. regarding two negative reviewers and removal of reviews about his business. The court denied both claims because the reviews contained personal experiences from individuals who were opposing parties in a dispute with plaintiff, no concrete damages were proven, and users' interest in anonymity outweighed plaintiff's interest in data disclosure.
What the court considered
- 01The reviews contain personal experiences rather than fabricated content from reviewers who were opposing parties in a dispute with plaintiff
- 02Plaintiff failed to specify or prove concrete damages resulting from the reviews
- 03The strong language used in the reviews is not unlawful or unnecessarily offensive given the context
- 04Users' interests in protecting personal data and anonymity outweigh plaintiff's interest in obtaining user information
- 05Google already removed reviews and committed to removing future reviews from these accounts, eliminating urgent interest
What this means in practice
Companies confronted with negative reviews must demonstrate concrete damage and provide evidence of actual unlawfulness. Mere suspicion that reviews are false or originate from competitors is insufficient. Platforms can prevent legal proceedings through proactive moderation commitments. This ruling demonstrates the high threshold for obtaining user data from review platforms and emphasizes the importance of concrete evidence of damage. It confirms that personal experiences in reviews, even in dispute situations, are protected under freedom of expression.
Legal basis
- Artikel 6:162 BW
- Artikel 7 EU-Verordening 1215/2012
- Artikel 4 Rome II-Verordening
- HR 25 november 2005 (Lycos/Pessers)
Related rulings
- Car dealer's demand to remove Google Maps reviews rejected by courtNetherlands · 7 January 2026
- Supreme Court rejects Digital Revolution's appeal against Google over unlawful reviewsNetherlands · 7 November 2025
- Debt collector loses bid to remove negative Google reviews over opinion statementsNetherlands · 31 October 2025
- Law firm's bid to remove negative Google reviews rejected by courtNetherlands · 15 September 2025
Free Case Assessment
Describe your situation and receive a free assessment of your chances, estimated hours, and recommended approach, within 48 hours.
Your data is treated confidentially