“The Tokyo District Court has dismissed a convict’s demand to have Google Inc. remove records of his fraud case from over a decade ago from its internet search results.
“Leaving the fact of the arrest known at low cost serves the public interest,” presiding Judge Katsuhiko Okazaki said in Friday’s ruling.
The man, who led a fraud group based on cash withdrawals, received a suspended prison term, lives in Tokyo and runs a company. His lawyer plans to appeal.
Google welcomed the decision, which clashes with European and other legislation that protects “the right to be forgotten.””