// Netherlands · Right to be forgotten
Google Defeats Legal Firm's Search Ranking Complaint Over Casino Terms
Rechtbank Amsterdam ·
ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2025:4460
The case
Legal advisory firm Dynamiet Nederland demanded that Google restore their search results, claiming their website was wrongfully de-indexed or demoted in rankings for casino-related search terms since February 2025. The court denied all claims because Dynamiet could not prove that Google had actually taken measures against their website, and Google had convincingly refuted any de-indexation or other sanctions.
What the court considered
- 01Plaintiff failed to demonstrate that Google actually performed de-indexation or other targeted measures against their website
- 02Dynamiet's website was actually indexed by Google, as evidenced by Google Search Console data
- 03Google convincingly refuted taking any manual measures or sanctions, and provided alternative explanations for observed declines
- 04The appeal to DSA and P2B regulation was insufficiently specific and Dynamiet failed to explain which provisions apply to Google Search as a search engine
- 05The graphs and data presented by Dynamiet were insufficiently substantiated and misleading in terms of scale and timeframe
What this means in practice
Companies wishing to hold Google liable for alleged manipulation of search results must provide concrete technical evidence, not merely statistical declines. Google Search Console data plays an important role as evidence. Claims concerning violations of digital regulations require thorough legal analysis of applicability. This ruling is significant because it clarifies the burden of proof in claims regarding alleged Google manipulation of search results, and demonstrates how technical arguments and data analysis are crucial in this type of case.
Legal basis
- Artikel 6:162 BW (onrechtmatige daad)
- Digital Services Act (DSA)
- Platform-to-Business Verordening (P2B)
- Brussel I-bis Verordening
- Rome II Verordening
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