Right to be forgotten: Privacy, data privacy and ethical debates

With digitalization, both the time spent online and the sharing and uncontrolled circulation of personal data in this environment have increased rapidly. This situation has brought with it discussions of violation of privacy, private life and personal data. In the face of rights violations, the person wants to use the right to be forgotten, which is called the right to demand the deletion of the infringed content. While the right to be forgotten allows for the elimination of violations of individual rights, it also brings with it discussions of public interest, freedom of expression, and freedom of the press. This situation shows that the right to be forgotten should be examined not only from a legal point of view but also from an ethical point of view. This study aimed to reveal the views of academics working in law and communication faculties on the ethical use of the right to be forgotten on the Internet and to question whether there are disciplinary differences between their views. The data obtained as a result of in-depth interviews with the academicians determined by the purposive sampling method were presented by classifying them under themes. According to the results of the research, the right to be forgotten is generally approached within the framework of individual rights and freedoms, violation of privacy private life, data privacy, and its negative effects on the daily life of the individual. It is accepted as a necessity that children, who are among the disadvantaged groups, benefit from the right to be forgotten. It is recommended to approach the demands objectively, to evaluate each event in its own particular and context, to establish a balance between rights, and to establish a committee that includes media organizations and other stakeholders.