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Norway Regulator Imposes Fines on Meta for Privacy Breaches
Norway's data protection authority, Datatilsynet, plans to impose a daily fine of one million crowns on Meta Platforms (owner of Facebook and Instagram) for privacy violations unless immediate action is taken.
This decision could have broader implications across Europe. Facebook and Instagram owner, Meta Platforms, may be fined one million crowns ($100,000) per day by Norway's data protection authority, Datatilsynet, if it fails to address privacy breaches. The fine will be charged from August 4 to November 3, unless Meta takes remedial action.
Datatilsynet explicitly stated that Meta cannot gather user data in Norway, including physical locations, to target behavioural advertising. Tobias Judin, head of Datatilsynet's international section, emphasised the urgency, stating, "It is so clear that this is illegal that we need to intervene now and immediately. We cannot wait any longer," in an interview with Reuters.
Meta responded by stating that it would review Datatilsynet's decision and assured that there would be no immediate impact on its services.
Datatilsynet has escalated the matter to the European Data Protection Board. If the board agrees, the fine may become permanent and extend its territorial scope in Europe, increasing the pressure on Meta, according to Judin.
This development follows the recent ruling by the European Union's top court, which forbids Meta from harvesting user data for behavioural advertising.
In December, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), the regulator for Meta's European headquarters, instructed the company to cease this practice.
Meta affirmed its commitment to collaborating with the Irish DPC to comply with its decision. The company also acknowledged the ongoing debate surrounding legal bases and expressed the need for regulatory certainty in this area.
While Norway is not an EU member, it is part of the European single market. Norwegian broadcaster NRK initially reported this news.
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, could face daily fines of $100,000 for privacy breaches, as announced by Norway's data protection authority, Datatilsynet.
Datatilsynet intends to charge the fine every day from August 4 to November 3 unless Meta takes remedial action.
Meta is prohibited from collecting user data in Norway for targeted behavioural advertising.
Source: REUTERS