Embattled Google Facing high court showdown

In a case with critical implications for the future management of the Internet, a former banker is suing Google in an attempt to force the all-pervading search engine to permanently expunge a catalogue of venomous lies published about him on the web.

The businessman was the victim of a sustained campaign of abuse and vilification. Google did not dispute that the scurrilous allegations of serious criminal behaviour on his part were untrue and it was therefore not a case of the search engine being asked to remove accurate material which the businessman found embarrassing.

The publisher of the offending material had yet to be definitely identified. One person had been pinpointed as a ‘prime suspect’ but had played no part in the proceedings. Following a preliminary hearing, the High Court gave directions relating to costs and disclosure of documents. The case, in which the businessman sought an injunction requiring Google to remove the offending material from its search results, was pencilled in for a five-day trial.

The Court noted that the issues raised were ‘not simple’ and Google estimated that its legal costs would be in the region of £1.68 million. Commenting on the widespread importance of the matter, the Court also observed, “There are many people who publish lies designed to damage others on the web and cases of this kind may be expected to multiply.”