A new law promising internet users the “right to be forgotten” will be proposed by the European Commission on Wednesday. It says people will be able to ask for data about them to be deleted and firms will have to comply unless there are “legitimate” grounds to retain it. The move is part of a wide-ranging overhaul of the commission’s 1995 Data Protection Directive.

A spokesman for the commissioner clarified that the action was designed to help teenagers and young adults manage their online reputations. It would seem that the new rules are particularly aimed at young people as they are not always as aware as they could be about the consequence of putting photos and other information on social network websites, or about the various privacy settings available. However, not everyone is happy at the new proposals and some tech firms have expressed concern about the reach of the new bill.