Japan recognises 'right to be forgotten' of man convicted of child sex offences

Court orders Google to hide news reports of Japanese man saying criminals are entitled to have their private lives 'respected and rehabilitation unhindered'

Japan has taken another step towards recognising "the right to be forgotten" of individuals online after a court ordered Google to remove news reports about the arrest of a man who, according to the judge, deserved the chance to rebuild his life "unhindered" by records of his criminal past.

While Japanese courts have demanded the removal of information strictly for privacy reasons, the recent ruling by Saitama district court is the first in the country to cite the right to be forgotten - something that has been enshrined in law in the European Union - in demanding the removal of personal information online, according to legal experts.