Brussels, 17/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - American computer giant Microsoft is following in the footsteps of Google by giving web browsers the option from Wednesday 16 July of requesting the withdrawal of information about them from search results in Microsoft's search engine Bing, thus applying the “right to be forgotten” laid down by the European Court of Justice in a case against Google on 13 May 2014. The European Court of Justice says that individuals have the right to ensure the removal of links to pages providing information about them that is deemed to be inadequate, incorrect or no longer relevant. In Bing search results, there is now an online form where people can give details of webpages that they feel should be removed from search results. The individuals must provide proof of their identity and give reasons for their request. Microsoft points out that, just as with Google, making a request does not guarantee that a particular search result will be blocked “but it will help us consider the balance between your individual privacy interest and the public interest in protecting free expression and the free availability of information, consistent with European law”. (IL)