Norway Refers Fines Against Meta to European Data Authority

Tobias Judin, head of international Datatilsynet, (photo: twitter @tobiasjudin)

JAKARTA - The Norwegian data authority will refer the fine imposed on Meta Platforms Inc., to the European data authority. They conveyed this on Thursday. The move could make the fine permanent and expand its scope to the European Union.

The owners of Facebook and Instagram have been fined one million Norwegian crowns (around IDR 1.4 billion) per day since August 14 for three months for violating users' privacy by collecting their data. Meta also allegedly uses it to target ads to netizens, a common business model among Big Tech.

This is the maximum period within which the Norwegian regulator, Datatilsynet, is permitted to impose such sanctions.

Datatilsynet has now referred its decision to the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), which could make the decision permanent and expand its scope to the European Union and the European Economic Area. Norway is not a member of the EU but is part of the European single market.

"Meta doesn't respect our decisions in Norway and they continue to break the law across Europe," Tobias Judin, Datatilsynet's head of international affairs, told Reuters.

This decision came after Meta was deemed to have failed to seek a temporary ban on Datatilsynet's fine.

Meta said they were “surprised” by Thursday 28 September’s decision given that they “were already committed to moving to a legal basis for consent for advertising in the EU/EEA.

"We remain in active discussions with the relevant data protection authorities on this topic through our lead regulator in the EU, the Irish Data Protection Commission, and will share more in the future," a Meta spokesperson said.

The Norwegian regulator said it was unclear when, and how, Meta would seek consent from users and that in the meantime users' rights continued to be violated. The EDPB did not immediately respond to media requests for comment.