Putin enacts million-ruble fines on Internet search engines for failure to protect ‘right to be forgotten’

Vladimir Putin has signed into law new legislation that fines Internet search engines 1 million rubles (almost $14,000) for refusing to delete hyperlinks to an individual's personal information, if legally requested under Russia's “right to be forgotten.”

According to the new law, Internet search engines will be required to remove links to unverified information and information about most events more than three years old, if it contains personal data that individuals wish to conceal under their new right “to be forgotten.” The only exception is information about criminal convictions.

Search engines will be fined between 80,000 and 100,000 rubles ($1,090 and $1,365), if they ignore an individual's takedown request. If the individual takes the matter to court and wins, the search engine faces penalties between 800,000 and 100,000 rubles.

Internet search engines have harshly criticized Russia's “right to be forgotten,” saying it will be impossible to enforce.