People walk past a building where the Norwegian Data Protection Authority is located in Oslo, Norway, on Sept. 28, 2023. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet) has requested a binding decision from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) in the Meta case. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)
OSLO, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Norwegian Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet) has requested a binding decision from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) in the Meta case.
"In the request, we ask that the Norwegian temporary ban on behavioral advertising on Facebook and Instagram (owned by Meta) be made permanent and extended to the entire EU/EEA (European Union/European Economic Area)," the regulator said in a statement on Thursday.
In July, Datatilsynet said it considered the U.S. technology giant's behavior-based marketing practices illegal as they excessively monitored user behavior. As a result, it argued, the company must halt such practices in Norway immediately.
Datatilsynet is only authorized to make a temporary decision, which will expire on Nov. 3.
"Therefore, we have asked the EDPB for a binding decision on the matter. We believe that our temporary ban must be made permanent. Furthermore, we believe that the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) must be interpreted consistently throughout the EU/EEA, and we ask for the ban to be extended to the rest of Europe," the statement said.
Meta faces a compulsory fine of 1 million Norwegian kroner (93,380 U.S. dollars) per day, starting on Aug. 14, following its failure to comply with the ban in Norway.
The tech giant subsequently filed for a temporary injunction in the Oslo District Court, asserting that Datatilsynet's directives were disproportionate, unfeasible and in conflict with other laws.
However, in a judgment delivered on Sept. 6, the Oslo District Court fully endorsed Datatilsynet's action, dismissing Meta's plea for a temporary injunction to halt the fine and stating that there was no cause to undermine the regulator's judgment. ■
Photo taken on Sept. 28, 2023 shows the building where the Norwegian Data Protection Authority is located in Oslo, Norway. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet) has requested a binding decision from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) in the Meta case. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)
