The archive
throughline No. 179 September 16, 2026

Privacy Commissioner asks court to force Google to remove dropped criminal charges

The Commissioner has no order-making power. He investigates, issues findings and recommends; when Google declined, his only remaining move was a court application subject to a 1-year limit. The 9-year delay is a feature of the statute, not a failure of the office.

The Commissioner has no order-making power. He investigates, issues findings and recommends; when Google declined, his only remaining move was a court application subject to a 1-year limit. The 9-year delay is a feature of the statute, not a failure of the office.

Canada's Privacy Commissioner asked the Federal Court to order Google to de-list news articles about a criminal charge that was dropped, 9 years after the complaint was filed.

Why it matters: A withdrawn accusation can outlast the withdrawal by a decade, because a search index does not distinguish charged from convicted — and the body meant to protect you from that can only recommend.

Date to watch: The Federal Court's first ruling — specifically whether it reaches the merits or disposes of the application on the 1-year timing question

Sources:

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