Court of Justice (Grand Chamber) 13 May 2014, C‑131/12 (Google Spain SL and Google Inc. v Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (AEPD) and Mario Costeja González.)

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The Court's judgment addresses the legal implications of search engines processing personal data under Directive 95/46, affirming that such activities constitute processing of personal data and that search engine operators qualify as data controllers. It emphasizes the need to balance the right to information against individuals' rights to privacy, particularly when search results are based on personal names, and establishes that individuals have the right to request the removal of links to web pages containing their personal information. The ruling clarifies that even lawful data processing may become incompatible with the directive if the information is deemed no longer relevant or excessive, prioritizing the data subject's rights over the economic interests of search engine operators.AI