The Right To Be Forgotten as a Positive Force for Freedom of Expression

The right to be forgotten is generally portrayed as a restriction on freedom of speech, but the situation is more complex than this. In some ways the right to be forgotten works in favour of both freedom of speech and access to information – helping both those who wish to have their work accessed and those seeking information. Indeed, as this paper argues, if the right is properly implemented, the benefits to freedom of expression may well outweigh the risks.