Belgium: Issued Belgian DPA decision in investigation into Google concerning right of erasure

On 22 December 2023, the Belgian Data Protection Authority (DPA) issued a decision and closed its investigation into Google concerning the right of erasure. The investigation concerned a complaint by an individual seeking to have links removed from Google Search, which contained accusations against the company of which the complainant was a director. The DPA stated that the right to erasure in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is based on balancing the individual’s right to data protection with the public interest regarding information accessibility. The DPA ruled that, under the circumstances of the case, the public interest prevailed and dismissed the complaint. An appeal may be filed within 30 days of the notification of the decision.