Norway Threatens Meta Platforms with Daily Fines Over Privacy Breaches

TECHDIGEST– Norway’s data protection authority, Datatilsynet, has issued a stern warning to Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, imposing a daily fine of one million crowns ($100,000) for privacy breaches unless the company takes remedial action. The fine will be charged from August 4 until November 3 unless Meta complies with the regulations. The authority asserts that Meta cannot harvest user data in Norway, including physical locations, for targeted behavioral advertising, a common practice among Big Tech companies. The move could have broader implications across Europe.

Tobias Judin, head of Datatilsynet’s international section, emphasized the urgency of intervention, stating that the breach is clearly illegal and requires immediate action. Meta, on the other hand, responded by saying it would review the decision, with no immediate impact on its services.

Datatilsynet has referred the matter to the European Data Protection Board, which, if it agrees, could make the fine permanent and extend its territorial scope within Europe. The decision comes shortly after the European Union’s top court ruled against Meta’s data harvesting practices for behavioral advertising. Notably, the data regulator in Ireland, where Meta has its European headquarters, had already demanded that the company cease the practice. Meta is currently engaging with the Irish Data Protection Commission regarding compliance.

Although Norway is not an EU member, it is part of the European single market, making the authority’s actions relevant across the region. The increasing scrutiny and potential fines are expected to put significant pressure on Meta, further intensifying the ongoing debate around privacy and data protection regulations for technology companies.