🔮 Better than the Oracle? Our Fair Value found this +42% bagger 5 months before Buffett bought itRead More

Norway court rules against Facebook owner Meta in privacy case

Published 06/09/2023, 10:36
Updated 06/09/2023, 11:27
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A smartphone with Meta logo is seen in front of displayed Facebook's new rebrand logo Meta in this illustration taken, October 28, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
META
-

By Gwladys Fouche

OSLO (Reuters) - Meta Platforms can be fined for breaching users' privacy, a Norwegian court ruled on Wednesday, stopping an attempt by the owner of Facebook (NASDAQ:META) and Instagram to halt a fine imposed by the country's data regulator.

Meta has been fined one million crowns ($93,200) per day since Aug. 14 for harvesting user data and using it to target advertising at them. So-called behavioural advertising is a business model common to Big Tech.

The owner of Facebook and Instagram had sought a temporaryinjunction against the order from the Norwegian data regulator, Datatilsynet, which imposed a daily fine for three months.

"This is a big victory for privacy," Datatilsynet said in a statement.

The case could have wider European implications as Datatilsynet is considering referring the decision to the European data regulator.

If the European Data Protection Board agrees with Datatilsynet, it could widen the decision's territorial scope to the rest of Europe and make the fine permanent.

The Norwegian agency said on Wednesday it had not yet made a decision on a referral.

Norway is not a member of the European Union but it is a member of the European single market.

VERDICT

Meta argued, among other things, that the authority's decision had been disproportionate, impossible to meet and in violation of other laws, but the court rejected the claims.

"None of these arguments will affect the outcome," Judge Henning Kristiansen said in his ruling, which also orders Meta to pay Datatilsynet's case costs.

Meta declined to say whether it would appeal the verdict.

"We are disappointed by today's decision and will now consider our next steps," a Meta spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

Meta told a two-day court hearing in August it had already committed to ask for consent from users and that Datatilsynet used an "expedited process" that was unnecessary and did not give the company enough time to answer.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A smartphone with Meta logo is seen in front of displayed Facebook's new rebrand logo Meta in this illustration taken, October 28, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The regulator has said it was unclear when, and how,Meta would seek consent from users and that, in the meantime,users' rights were being violated.

($1 = 10.7271 Norwegian crowns)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.