EU court: Google should not delete personal information The Luxembourg-based EU court said in a statement: "Requesting search engine service providers to suppress legitimate and legal information that has entered the public domain would entail an interference with the freedom of expression. Search engine service providers are not responsible, on the basis of the Data Protection Directive, for personal data appearing on web pages they process. The European Court of Justice is not bound by the Advocate General's opinion, but judges follow their recommendations in most cases. Google said in a statement from Bill Echikson, Head of Free Expression, Google EMEA: "This is a good opinion for free expression. We're glad to see it supports our long-held view that requiring search engines to suppress "legitimate and legal information" would amount to censorship." A final judgement on the case is expected before the end of the year. Google's search results have also been criticised as anti-competitive. Speaking today in an interview with The Financial Times, Google senior vice president Amit Singhal said proposed regulations would stunt advances. Mr Singhal said: "It would really hurt innovation if you freeze things as they are today." He added: "We're building the search of the future. We are getting closer to the vision of talking to Google and asking anything you want to know. Today's ruling in favour of Google comes after a series of criticisms against the company's privacy policy in recent weeks. Last week, the Information Commissioner's Office decided not to fine Google for privacy breach but ordered the company to delete personal data it harvested via Street View Cars. The internet search giant said it accidentally gathered passwords, internet usage history and other sensitive data from Wi-Fi networks as it drove through the UK. Google was issued with a legally-binding notice and could face prosecution if they do not delete the data. France's data protection watchdog, CNIL (Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés), also threatened Google with fines if it does not change its privacy policy, such as clarifying its intentions and methods for data collection.