Microsoft Set to Launch Google-Like 'Right to be Forgotten' Form in Compliance with EU Court Ruling

Technology giant Microsoft, which operates its own internet search engine Bing, is all set to launch an online form, similar to Google's 'Right to be Forgotten' internet platform, in compliance with the EU court's landmark May verdict.

According to a New York Times report, Microsoft will soon introduce a standalone online 'data removal request form' to users in the EU who prefer searching for online content via Bing.

The Redmond-based company has acknowledged a delay in implementing the court's landmark verdict that promises to change the way user data privacy is perceived by technology service providers across the European Union.

"Developing an appropriate system is taking us some time. We expect to launch a form through which users can make requests soon," the company stated online.

"We're currently working on a special process for residents of the European Union to request blocks of specific privacy-related search results on Bing in response to searches on their names", added Microsoft.

At this juncture, Microsoft has not made public when its online 'Right to be forgotten' form will be launched.

However, a longer wait looms large for Bing users in the EU to exercise 'Right to be Forgotten', as Microsoft now seems to be in a catch-22 situation with Yahoo also using Bing to offer internet search services to its users.

This means that the company needs to sort out various issues, both legal and general, by working in tandem with Yahoo, before releasing a Google-like 'Right to be Forgotten' online form.

Currently, Google is the single largest player in terms of search engine usage across the European Union. This factor has led to the company receiving 'Right to be Forgotten' requests numbering in excess of 70,000.

With Microsoft Bing having a comparatively insignificant user EU user base, it is imperative that the company comes out with its standalone online form at the earliest.

'Right to be Forgotten' franchise stems form a European Union court's May judgment that makes it mandatory for search engines across the region to remove (on request) links that point to inappropriate or inadequate data whenever users conduct personal searches.

As of now, Google has started the process of removing 'Right to be forgotten' search results.