Meta Platforms Seeks Legal Intervention in Norway’s Privacy Fine.
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is taking legal action in a Norwegian court to challenge a fine imposed by the country’s data regulator over privacy violations. The fine, amounting to 1 million Norwegian crowns ($97,700) daily starting from August 14, was announced by Norway’s data protection authority. This decision carries potential implications across Europe.
Meta Platforms is pursuing a temporary injunction against the penalty, as indicated in the court filing. The court will address this matter during a two-day hearing scheduled for August 22.
As of now, Meta Platforms has not responded to requests for comments, and its Norwegian legal representative has yet to provide a response to emailed inquiries.
Datatilsynet, the Norwegian data regulator, has clarified that Meta Platforms is seeking to halt the fine’s enforcement. Tobias Judin, who oversees the international section at Datatilsynet, revealed that Meta Platforms aims to secure a court order to temporarily suspend the penalty until a complete trial can take place. Datatilsynet, on the other hand, will present arguments against the injunction, contending that there are no grounds to warrant such a suspension.
The crux of the issue lies in Meta Platforms’ data practices. The regulator maintains that Meta Platforms cannot collect user data in Norway, including physical locations, and subsequently employ this information for targeted behavioral advertising— a common business model within the realm of major tech companies. The stipulated fine will remain in effect until November 3. Datatilsynet holds the authority to escalate the matter by referring its verdict to the European Data Protection Board, a move that could result in a permanent imposition of the penalty across Europe, contingent on the Board’s agreement with the Norwegian regulator’s decision.
