STORY: Norway's data regulator brings Meta privacy case to EU level
DATELINE: Sept. 30, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:19
LOCATION: Oslo
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Datatilsynet (The Norwegian Data Protection Authority) X5
2. various of Oslo Downtown X4

TORYLINE:

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. 

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Oslo.
(XHTV)