Censorship claims as Google cuts search results

Google’s removal of some search results in Europe is drawing accusations of censorship.

The U.S. firm has to comply with a strict privacy ruling made in May by the European Union’s top court that enables citizens to ask for the removal of embarrassing personal information that pops up on a search of their names.

At least three British media, including the Guardian newspaper and public broadcaster BBC, say they have been notified by Google that links to some of their articles were removed from search results in Europe.

The Guardian says six articles have been removed in what the newspaper calls a “challenge to press freedom.” The BBC says one blog entry was removed, while the Mail Online saw four articles removed.