The right to be forgotten: internet links to personal data

Generations of mothers have warned their offspring that; "Life is like a pathway leading through the snow; be careful how you tread, for every mark will show." But in the internet era the European Court of Justice begs to differ.

Just about anyone who uses Facebook or Twitter knows the sinking sensation that accompanies being tagged in an unflattering photo or reading, in the cold light of morning, a late night pontification.

Young job hunters are regularly alarmed to learn that recruiters routinely trawl social networks looking for school or university posts to discover whether job candidates pose an employment risk. Many of us are surprised at what a Google search of our names reveals.