// Netherlands · Right to be forgotten
Former financial advisor loses bid to scrub conviction records from Google search results
Rechtbank Midden-Nederland ·
ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2018:2196
The case
A former financial advisor requested Google to remove search results referring to his criminal and civil convictions in bankruptcy cases. The court denied the request because the search results were accurate and relevant, concerned his professional activities as a public figure, and the public interest in accessing this information outweighed his privacy rights.
What the court considered
- 01The search results are accurate, relevant and not excessive as they refer to reliable sources such as bankruptcy reports and journalistic publications
- 02The information concerns applicant's professional activities, not his private life, and he is considered a public figure due to his role in public life
- 03The public has a strong interest in access to information about bankruptcy misconduct, especially since applicant wants to return to the financial sector
- 04The balancing test favors Google and the public over applicant's privacy interests
- 05Applicant has insufficiently demonstrated that the content of the publications is incorrect
What this means in practice
For professionals returning to their field after legal troubles, it becomes more difficult to have search results removed. Companies and individuals must realize that professional conduct in the public sphere has long-lasting consequences for online visibility. This ruling clarifies the application of the right to be forgotten for public figures in professional context and emphasizes the great weight of the public interest in information about bankruptcy misconduct.
Legal basis
- Artikel 36 Wbp
- Artikel 40 Wbp
- Artikel 8 sub f Wbp
- Artikelen 7 en 8 Handvest van de grondrechten van de Europese Unie
- Google-Costeja arrest HvJEU
Related rulings
- French top court: naming person in article on criminal conviction may standFrance · 3 June 2026
- Dutch real estate entrepreneur loses bid to remove criminal conviction article from Google search resultsNetherlands · 28 August 2025
- Google Defeats Legal Firm's Search Ranking Complaint Over Casino TermsNetherlands · 28 May 2025
- Court Denies Wealthy Heir's Bid to Scrub Criminal Past From Google Search ResultsNetherlands · 26 March 2024
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