The French Court of Cassation has ruled that the right to be forgotten does not apply to online press archives when the information remains of public interest. In a decision made on June 3, 2026, the court rejected a request to remove or anonymize an article about a former sports official’s criminal conviction, stating that the information still contributes to a public debate on the links between money and sports.
The case involved a former president of a football club who was convicted of complicity in breach of trust, receiving stolen goods, and misusing corporate assets between 2002 and 2004. The online newspaper 20 Minutes published an article about the conviction on June 15, 2009. The individual later requested that the article be removed or anonymized, citing his right to be forgotten and the protection of his personal data.
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However, the Court of Cassation found that the information in the article was still of public interest, particularly in relation to the governance and financing of sports.
Background information is necessary to understand this case. The concept of the right to be forgotten has been the subject of much debate in recent years, particularly with the advent of the internet and the ease with which information can be accessed and shared. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation provides individuals with the right to request the erasure of their personal data, but this right is not absolute and must be balanced against other fundamental rights, such as the right to freedom of expression and information.
In this case, the Court of Cassation had to weigh the individual’s right to be forgotten against the public’s right to access information. The court found that the information in the article was still relevant and contributed to a public debate, and therefore, the right to freedom of expression and information took precedence.
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The court’s decision confirms that the maintenance of online press archives can be justified when the information retains sufficient public interest. The Court of Cassation’s decision is a significant development in the ongoing debate about the right to be forgotten and the protection of online press archives.
It is a final ruling.