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penprog | 11 years ago

I think this is good, I think people should be able to delete their online presence when they turn 18. The way the internet is now, it's too easy to screw up your own life.

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ominous|11 years ago

I can't agree with this. I see erasing bits of the internet that don't belong to you the same way I'd see asking for people to forget memories.

spain|11 years ago

But would you agree with it if we lived in a world where nobody ever forgot anything? Because that's what we're living in now with the internet.

When I read "right to be forgotten" I think of it just as how people forget about the dumb stuff they did as a kid, which we've all done and would prefer to forget. The internet makes this impossible.

Now obviously this could be misused to forget things that really shouldn't be forgot (say, murder or other political things), but that depends on the particular case and they need to be evaluated as such. Just because people have the option doesn't mean it will be abused, and maybe we should concentrate our efforts on making sure it isn't than denying the right completely.

[opinion]

Also please don't judge me too harshly but in my personal opinion I think a lot of people would have been for this a few years ago, but now when it's an option people always find reasons to bitch about something because it makes them seem smarter. "Hah, everyone thinks this is good? Let me prove everyone just how wrong they are." Not pointing at anyone in particular. It's not even tied to this particular issue either, but I feel like I see it a lot. I myself have done this in the past.

[/opinion]

freshflowers|11 years ago

The essence of privacy in the European context is that data about you belongs to you, unless it's in the greater public interest.

Who do you think it belongs to?

ProAm|11 years ago

Except a lot of the time recorded history is one-sided and often out of context. People should have a right to a reasonable amount of privacy. Especially children when they do not really understand the mistakes they make while growing up (adults too). Too many witch hunts come out of half-truths and manipulated 'evidence' and facts.

andrewfong|11 years ago

Here's an alternative: When you turn 18, you get an automatic free name change. I'm sure it'll be a pain in the ass for the person in question, but it's easier than making the Internet forget something.

Besides, if an annoying bureaucratic process is sufficient to deter you from going ahead with a name change, then the privacy interest at stake here can't be that huge.

kaybe|11 years ago

Cue face recognition software. Plus I reckon it's not that hard to dox people if you really want to.

Aloisius|11 years ago

Absolutely, I can't agree more. I'm not sure why you think it should be limited to people before the age of 18 though or why you think it should be limited to online presence though.

I can think of many corrupt politicians and criminals who would desperately love to be forgotten not to mention people with criminal histories that would love to become politicians. I mean even your average celebrity like Bill Cosby would love to erase bits of his history from the record right about now.