SBC’s online content is permanently available. This digital archive is in the public interest: according to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the right to freely form opinions also includes the right to research past events.

The SBC is repeatedly confronted with requests from individuals who demand the deletion of older online content concerning them. The SBC adopts a deliberately restrictive approach to such requests, as it attaches greater weight to the public interest in the archival function of its online content than to the individual protection of privacy. According to the ECHR, the media also fulfil their role by keeping older online pieces available to interested media users. Anonymising an online piece is possible, but remains an exception.

To do so, the editorial team must consult the legal department, which assesses each case individually and decides on the request together with the relevant senior editorial management or department head.

If we anonymise a piece in exceptional cases, we make this transparent online and note this accordingly in the archive to prevent reuse.

For pieces published on third-party platforms (e.g. YouTube, Spotify, social media), appropriate measures (e.g. blocking, obscuring, explanatory text) must also be taken where possible.