London businessman Brian Retkin has launched a landmark legal battle against Google that seeks to make the world’s largest search engine liable for publication of inaccurate, malicious or harmful material on the Internet. If successful, the case would make search engines responsible for the content on the Internet and could trigger strong limitations on the free flow of information online.

The 48-year-old man from Wembley began the court proceedings after Google directed users to Web pages that he claims contained “deeply offensive and commercially damaging” material about his various enterprises. For example, one page accuses Retkin of profiting from the September 11th terrorist attacks by providing free registration of domain names that preyed off the stark patriotism at the time. Thus, it is no surprise that such allegations are rumored to have originated here in the U.S.

Retkin, who owns and operates a domain name registrar, claims that for three years he has been trying to persuade Google to remove the defamatory material.

“There comes a point,” said Mr Retkin, “when someone must take responsibility for this material. These allegations were posted anonymously so there is no way of suing the author. Where it has appeared on internet discussion forums we have asked them to remove it but it keeps popping up again at other internet addresses. The only solution is for Google to remove it and give an undertaking they will remove it permanently.”

While US judges have ruled that search engines like Google are immune from defamation lawsuits, the law in Britain takes a different approach, as search engine immunity from defamation is conditional on the search engine not having received formal complaint. So, technically, Retkin actually has a chance of winning.

Realistically, however, let’s be serious. Google is the main source of information throughout the entire globe, and no legal system in its right mind — assuming Britain has its head on straight — would dare to make it censor itself. Retkin needs to show a little backbone. Most everyone on the Internet has been defamed at one time or another. Sure it’s not pleasant and can be very hurtful, but unfortunately it comes with the territory. The Internet is full of trolls and you can’t go around suing search engines because of what they say. Don’t like it, don’t use the Internet. It’s that simple.