DIGITAL PRIVACY, DIGITAL FOOTPRINTS AND THE RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN: NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL AGE

Nowadays, every text sent, every single photo or video posted is leaving an invisible trail behind, otherwise known as a digital footprint. Many people, especially those who live in countries with limited digital literacy, are unaware of the long-term effects of their online actions. As technological developments keep growing, the fine line between public and private life is blurring, which raises some crucial questions about privacy, personal footprints and the legal frameworks necessary to prevent the misuse of data. This need has brought about the concept of the right to be forgotten, which gives individuals some sort of say over their digital lives. Even though some c have adopted laws for protection, technological advancements still leave individuals insecure and vulnerable in a digital world, especially in countries like Ethiopia who are still struggling to protect their citizens.

To grasp the concepts discussed in the preceding paragraphs, it is necessary to elucidate what a digital footprint means. It is the trail of personal data left behind when using digital technologies. The trails could be active, like deliberately shared information on social media, or passively created without the user’s knowledge through tracking or browsing cookies or government collection.¹ What is all the more concerning is the lack of understanding observed amongst people regarding the permanence of these footprints. Merely deleting a post or clearing a browsing history is not a permanent eraser as the content can be traced through online archives and third party databases. This becomes even more problematic as the personal data collected is used without the individual’s consent, possibly for targeted advertising, surveillance or background checks.

The right to be forgotten first came to be as a response to the above privacy concerns, with the aim to give individuals control over their personal data. The EU Court of Justice developed this concept in the Google Spain case of 2014. “In this ruling the court decided that the right to be forgotten gives individuals the ability to have control over personal data by deciding what information about them should be accessible to the public through search engines”.² This landmark case was later codified into the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which was implemented in 2018. This also made it possible to require organizations to be transparent about their data collection and provide individuals control over their presence online³. A similar act in USA, namely, The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) of 2018⁴, prohibits companies from selling personal data. But in many parts of the world, such protections are nonexistent. In Ethiopia, digital privacy laws are in their infancy seeing that the Personal Data Protection Proclamation was adopted in 2024⁵. Even though this is a significant step in the right direction to protect privacy, it is also very recent. There are too few legal mechanisms available seeing the growth in the level of digitalization and internet access. Absence of these mechanisms leaves citizens vulnerable to exploitation.

The importance of protecting one’s digital footprint becomes evident when we consider the impact it can have on our personal and professional life. We live in an age where there are too many people who can view our profiles such as future employers, universities and even the government. A single impulsive post or a comment taken out of context can resurface years later and derail the future opportunities a person could otherwise enjoy. For instance, job recruiters nowadays conduct social media background check to assess the behavior of potential hires⁶. Additionally, knowing that the internet lacks context, simple jokes or conversations can be blown out of proportion and stripped of nuance. These fragmented digital histories are sadly unreflective of growth and changing perspectives. Without legal protections like the right to be forgotten, individuals have little to no recourse to correct these past mistakes. Furthermore, digital privacy issues extend to broader societal challenges mainly in developing countries like Ethiopia. Many Ethiopians are unaware of how their data is collected which makes them more susceptible to digital exploitation, which is evident in the low level of digital literacy exposing them to risks they might not even understand. Cross-boarder data transfer can also be an issue as data collected by foreign companies is stored on foreign servers which puts it out of government reach.

Even though legal reform is more than necessary, personal responsibility is the best recourse available in the meantime. As far as digital footprints are concerned, a minimal amount of activity and well thought out engagement can be crucial in maintaining proper digital privacy. Individuals should think carefully before engaging with online posts or sharing personal information. These things may resurface in the future and ruin an opportunity. Additionally, individuals should be conscious while agreeing to terms and policies of social media platforms, because otherwise it could lead to data exploitation of unsuspecting users. However, relying on personal vigilance only is not enough as governments need to take proactive steps to enact digital privacy laws and constantly educate citizens on safeguarding their data. After all, the existence of the law alone is not sufficient to bring about the desired outcome. The people must be informed of the consequences of their actions.

The right to be forgotten offers a way to reclaim control over personal data, even though its implementation has been difficult. The advancement in digital technology makes it harder and harder to control, that the law is merely playing catch up. For example, the growth in Artificial intelligence (AI) has made it possible not just to imitate human intelligence, but also duplicate people’s voice and demeanor creating an unnerving situation where individuals’ very personhood can be stolen. Essentially, technological development widens the gap between countries with stronger privacy protections and those without it. It is important to work towards creating a harmonized standard of privacy protection across all countries. In the meantime, awareness is the biggest weapon individuals have in a digital age.

Overall, digital footprints can be more than just traces of online activity. They represent pieces of our identity that can be stolen, sold, scrutinized and most of all, weaponized. While countries like Ethiopia embrace digitalization, stricter privacy laws should be implemented alongside educating citizens to increase digital literacy to survive this upcoming wave of digital transformation. Legal protections like the right to be forgotten are a step in the right direction,

but they are not enough. Individuals should also take initiative in being conscious of and accountable for their digital history by vigilantly monitoring privacy policies and second thinking about everything they are willing to share online. The internet may never be forgotten, but through these safeguards, individuals can reclaim control over their digital lives and essentially create a digital footprint they are proud of.

Reference(S):

1. Nasir K, ‘The Evolution of Privacy Laws in the Digital Age’ (2025) 7(2) International Journal of African Sustainable Development Research 269 7, no. 2 (2025):269-278. DOI: https://doi.org/10.70382/tijasdr.v07i2.033
2. ‘EU Court decides on two major “right to be forgotten” cases: there are no winners here’ (2019) https://www.accessnow.org/eu-court-decides-on-two-major-right-to-be-forgotten-cases -there-are-no-winners-here/ accessed 28 July 2025
3. Kuner C, The GDPR: Understanding the General Data Protection Regulation (Oxford University Press 2017)
4. California Consumer Privacy Act 2018 (California) https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa accessed 28 July 2025
5. Personal Data Protection Proclamation No 1321/2024 (Federal Negarit Gazette No 35 2024)

¹ Nasir K, ‘The Evolution of Privacy Laws in the Digital Age’ (2025) 7(2) International Journal of African Sustainable Development Research 269 7, no. 2 (2025):269-278. DOI: https://doi.org/10.70382/tijasdr.v07i2.033

²‘EU Court decides on two major “right to be forgotten” cases: there are no winners here’ (2019) https://www.accessnow.org/eu-court-decides-on-two-major-right-to-be-forgotten-cases-there-are-no-winners-her e/ accessed 28 July 2025

³ Kuner C, The GDPR: Understanding the General Data Protection Regulation (Oxford University Press 2017)

⁴ California Consumer Privacy Act 2018 (California) https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa accessed 28 July 2025

⁵ Personal Data Protection Proclamation No 1321/2024 (Federal Negarit Gazette No 35 2024)

⁶Ibid, n 1.