Celebrity injunction: Google removes links referencing couple at centre of privacy order

The search engine was reportedly contacted by an online privacy firm representing couple

Compensation is set at £11,000 for rape committed by one attacker, but researchers found that many victims faced serious obstacles in applying for damages (Getty)

Google has removed links relating to the couple at the centre of a celebrity injunction after receiving legal requests to do so.

A search on the names of the two high-profile people involved in the privacy order brings up notices to say results have been removed following a legal request.

A report by the Daily Mail claims Google was contacted by an online privacy firm on behalf of the couple to complain about 150 search links relating to the pair.

A Court of Appeal ruling granted a privacy injunction to the celebrity, referred to by the initials PJS and described as a “well-known” public figure, after the Sun on Sunday planned to publish an account of an extramarital “three-way sexual encounter”.

In their ruling, judges said publishing the story would be “devastating” for the man and would “generate a media storm”, which would, in turn, make their young children the subject of increased media attention.

He has since been named by a political blogger, a US publication, a Scottish newspaper and newspapers in Canada and Sweden.

The Court of Appeal will hear the Sun on Sunday's case for the injunction to be discharged on Friday. The application will be heard by Lord Justice Jackson, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Simon in a private hearing, but the decision will be given in an open court.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.