Right To Have Your Information De-Listed? The Federal Privacy Commissioner Issues Decision

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) issued its findings on August 27 2025 in connection with an investigation regarding the issue of whether individuals have the right to have information about them de-listed from search engine results. The OPC found that in limited circumstances, there is such a right where the search results are likely to cause significant harm to an individual, such as a risk of harm to a person's safety or dignity, that outweigh any public interest in that information remaining accessible when searching the individual's name.

The OPC investigation resulted from a complaint against Google, which arose after an individual faced a criminal charge that was dropped shortly after it was laid. Years later, news articles about the charge continued to be searchable online when the individual's name was searched, and the individual claimed it caused them direct harm, including physical assault, lost employment opportunities and severe