Fine imposed on Meta for breach of privacy

Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, has been fined one million crowns ($100,000) per day by the data protection authority of Norway for breaching privacy regulations. The fine will be imposed until Meta takes preventive action to address the breaches.

According to the regulator Datatilsynet, the daily fines will begin on August 4 and continue until November 3, unless Meta takes the necessary actions. Specifically, Meta is prohibited from using user data in Norway, including physical locations, for targeted advertising, also known as behavioral advertising, which is a common practice among big tech companies.

Tobias Judin, the Head of Datatilsynet's International section, expressed the urgency of the situation, stating, "It is clear that this is not legal and that intervention is necessary, both now and as soon as possible. We should not and cannot wait any longer."

Meta has stated that it will review the decision made by Datatilsynet and expects no immediate impact on its services. The decision has also been referred to the European Data Protection Board, which has the authority to uphold the fine and extend its territorial scope across Europe.

Judin expressed concerns about the additional burden this decision places on Meta. The ruling by Datatilsynet follows a recent judgment by the European Union's top court, which determined that Meta cannot use user data for behavioural advertising. In December of the previous year, the Irish data regulator, where Meta's headquarters are located, ordered the company to cease this practice. Meta has stated that it will continue to cooperate with the Irish Data Protection Commission regarding their adherence to this decision.