The recent case of Garcia v Google identifies a central problem of the internet world as we know it — that speech may be freer and more powerful than before and opportunities for creative expression radically extended but individuals may lose control over what happens to their images and other distinctive features, challenging assumptions about their identity. In the discussion below, it is argued that the time has come to move beyond relying on the language of “privacy” and if the idea is to allow individuals to maintain control over the formulation of personal identity in the digital age, then laws should be framed around that.
