Facebook owner Meta Platforms will ask a Norwegian court to stop a fine from the country’s data regulator Datatilsynet.

The company has been fined NKR1 million ($94,313) per day through to 3 November for harvesting users’ data and using it to target advertising at them. This practice, known as behavioural advertising, is common among Big Tech players like Google and Amazon, but the European Union has sought to tighten up its approach to data.

It has requested a temporary injunction against the order, with Meta previously saying earlier this month that it intended to ask consent from users in the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA) before allowing behavioural advertising.

In comments to Reuters, a spokesperson for Meta said that “We have already announced our intention to transition to the legal basis of Consent for personalised advertising for people in the EU and EEA.”

Datatilsynet is ready to defend the fine in court and has said that it is unclear when and how the company would seek consent from users. It noted that until that point, users’ rights were being violated by the Facebook and Instagram company.

The temporary fine could be made permanent should the European Data Protection Board agree with the decision upon referral.

Also speaking to Reuters Tobias Judin, head of international sector for Datatilsynet, said: "Datatilsynet will argue that there is no basis for an injunction.”

The results of this case could have wider ramifications across Europe, and could be treated as precedent for other data regulators in the EEA.

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