Hong Kong tycoon can sue Google over 'autocomplete' search suggestions, court rules

Albert Yeung allowed by High Court to bring defamation case over search engine giant's autocomplete function linking him to triads

Google argued that the "entire basis of the internet could be compromised" if it was forced to police what search suggestions people see. Photo: AP

A High Court judge's ruling that entertainment tycoon Albert Yeung Sau-shing can go ahead with his defamation lawsuit against Google is a decision that could have far-reaching consequences for the future of its search engine.

Yeung, founder of a company that manages some of Hong Kong's most famous celebrities, wants to sue the US technology giant because the "autocomplete" function of its search engine links him to triad gangs.

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