Meta's Apps Barred from Running Behavioral Advertising in Norway

Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, has received a ban on conducting behavioral advertising on Facebook and Instagram in Norway. The ban, imposed by the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, comes as a response to the surveillance and profiling of users, which violates privacy rights.

The Ban and Its Consequences

The ban on behavioral advertising will be effective from August 4th for a three-month period, or until Meta demonstrates compliance with the law. Failure to comply with the decision may result in a coercive fine of up to one million NOK ($100,000) per day for Meta. It's important to note that this ban only applies to users in Norway, as specified by the Norwegian Data Protection Authority.

Meta's Illegal Practices

The Norwegian Data Protection Authority deemed Meta's practices illegal, leading to the imposition of a temporary ban on behavioral advertising for Facebook and Instagram. This decision follows a ruling made in December by the Irish Data Protection Commission on behalf of all data protection authorities in the European Economic Area (EEA), which confirmed Meta's engagement in illegal behavioral advertising.

Although Meta has made some changes in response to previous rulings, a recent decision from the Court of Justice of the European Union concluded that Meta's behavioral advertising still fails to meet legal requirements.

Protecting User Rights and Privacy

It's important to note that the ban on behavioral advertising in Norway does not mean a complete prohibition of Facebook or Instagram in the country. The aim of the ban is to ensure that Norwegian users can utilize these services securely while safeguarding their rights. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority emphasizes the significance of privacy as a fundamental human right and insists that business models must respect it.

Tobias Judin, Head of International in the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, stresses the need for users to maintain control over their own data, with any tracking activities being limited. This ban serves as a reminder that privacy violations will not be tolerated, and user rights must be protected.

Source

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