According to foreign media POLITICO reported that the Norwegian Data Protection Authority ordered Facebook and Instagram’s parent company Meta to stop displaying personalized ads to Norwegian users based on their online activities and estimated location, the ban came into effect on August 4 and lasted three months.
The Norwegian agency Datatilsynet said Meta’s advertising practices on Facebook and Instagram currently involve “the processing of very private and sensitive personal data through highly opaque and intrusive monitoring and analytics operations.”
While the ban is in effect, Facebook and Instagram will only be able to deliver customized ads based on user profiles, and if Meta violates the order, it will face a fine of 1 million Norwegian kroner (NOK) per day (Note: 714,000 RMB).
In addition, the temporary ban could be lifted if Meta finds a way to legally process personal data and allows users to opt out of tracking-based targeted ads at any time.
