The importance of removing digital footprints has grown in the modern era.
The necessity to monitor, and control individuals’ personal data has increased in tandem with the proliferation of internet users. An individual’s online presence can jeopardize their reputation, leaving them susceptible to identity theft, and prone to
digital fraud. Particularly concerning is the fact that digital data is ever-present, and
permanent, which presents formidable obstacles to privacy, and security. It took a
few decades to realize that the internet never forgets. The online activities of individuals are generating multiple sets of digital footprints in an ever-growing digital society. Sir Winston Churchill once said inter alia, ‘We have control over the words
we don’t say, but we are bound by the ones we speak’. This historical lesson is having a profound impact on the digital world today.
The conundrum of erasing digital footprints: A regulatory challenge
Technology advances, the idea of deleting one’s digital traces sparked discussions and worries. Digital material can persist permanently, may be simply found through search engines. The mechanisms like auto suggest, and machine learning contribute to information leakage through search engines.