Meta Faces Million-Crown Daily Fine in Norway: Ticking Clock for Compliance
Norway’s data protection authority, Datatilsynet, has revealed its intention to impose a daily fine of one million Norwegian crowns ($98,500) on Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, starting August 14 due to violations of user privacy.
This decision follows a prior warning issued by Datatilsynet on July 17, which had indicated that the company would face penalties unless it rectified the privacy infringements that had been identified.
The focus of the regulator’s action is Meta’s practice of collecting user data in Norway, including physical locations, to facilitate targeted behavioral advertising, a tactic commonly employed by major technology corporations. The proposed fine will be in effect until November 3, subject to any potential extensions or permanence as determined by the European Data Protection Board.
Tobias Judin, who leads Datatilsynet’s international section, underscored the impending consequences, stating, “Starting next Monday, a daily fine of 1 million crowns will come into effect.” This enforcement demonstrates the authority’s commitment to upholding data protection standards within Norway and potentially across the broader European context.
Although Norway is not a European Union member state, it operates within the European single market, potentially leading to wider implications if the case is referred to the European Data Protection Board. However, Datatilsynet has not taken this step as of now.
In response to these regulatory challenges, Meta recently announced its intention to seek user consent within the European Union before engaging in targeted advertising on behalf of businesses, using user interactions on Facebook and Instagram as the basis. This strategic shift aligns with a directive issued by Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner in January, which called for a reevaluation of the legal foundation for Meta’s ad targeting activities in the region.
As the implementation date for the fine approaches, Meta Platforms can anticipate heightened scrutiny not just in Norway but also from other European data protection authorities.
