Can I be forgotten and have my data erased in Sweden?
Yes — under GDPR (Article 17) you have a right to request that personal data about you be erased, and that search results on your name be removed. You send the request directly to the search engine (e.g. Google's form) or to the company, not to IMY. They must respond without undue delay and at the latest within one month. A removed search result only removes the link at your name — the webpage itself remains, and to remove it you must contact the website. The right applies only if your privacy interest outweighs the public's right to information, which is harder if you are a public figure. A Swedish search service with a publishing certificate is largely outside GDPR.
📋 The rules
- Right to request erasure and removed search results (GDPR art. 17)
- Request directly from the search engine or company, not IMY
- Response at the latest within one month
- A removed search result only removes the link at your name
- Granted only if privacy outweighs the information interest
🔓 Exceptions
- A request can be refused if the data is needed for freedom of expression or legal claims
- Hard to enforce against a public figure
- Search services with a publishing certificate are largely outside GDPR
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A company that wrongly refuses erasure can be fined by IMY up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover. You can complain to IMY if refused.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Do I have a right to be forgotten?
Yes, GDPR gives you a right to request erasure and removal of search results on your name, if the conditions are met.
Who do I request it from?
Directly from the search engine or the company that holds the data, not from IMY.
How quickly must they respond?
Without undue delay and at the latest within one month of your request.
Does a removed search result remove the webpage?
No. It only removes the link at your name. To remove the page you must contact the website.
What do I do if I am refused?
You can file a complaint with the Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY).
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I be forgotten gdpr sweden”
- “erase data google removal”
- “search result remove name”
- “right to erasure gdpr”
- “imy complaint erasure”
- “publishing certificate search service”