4 September 2015.
A Chinese comedian is suing the Chinese search giant Baidu in an attempt to get a ruling similar to the European “right to be forgotten” law.
Deliang Xu is suing because a Baidu Baike entry about him allegedly contains incorrect, “defamatory” content. Baidu Baike is an online encyclopaedia similar to Wikipedia.
Xu wants Baidu to block the creation of any future Baidu Baike entry about him, arguing that as a public figure, having incorrect information online severely damages his reputation.
He also wants to be “unsearchable” on Baidu, arguing that Baidu is breaking the law as it does not have his consent to make money from his Baidu Baike entry.
He admits his case is in unchartered legal territory, commenting that: “We are arguing that a citizen has the right to disappear on one of the most popular Internet services. This has not been done before.”
