Meta asks court to stop daily fine imposed by regulator
Company says it is working on getting consent from users
Regulator Datatilsynet to present arguments on Wednesday

OSLO, Aug 22 Reuters Meta Platforms on Tuesday asked a court in Norway to stop a fine that the country39;s data regulator has imposed on the owner of Facebook and Instagram for breaching user privacy, in a case that could have wider European implications.

Since Aug. 14, Meta Platforms has been fined 1 million crowns 94,313 per day for harvesting user data and using it to target advertising at them, called behavioural advertising, a practice common to Big Tech.

The company is asking for a temporary injunction against the order, which imposes a daily fine through to Nov. 3.

Meta has already committed to ask for consent from users, Christian Reusch, a lawyer representing the company, told the court on Tuesday.

The Norwegian data regulator, Datatilsynet, told Meta on July 14 of its intention of fining the company unless Meta took remedial action. The regulator went ahead with the fine on Aug. 7.

On Aug. 1, Meta said it had agreed to ask for consent from users in Europe before allowing behavioural advertising, citing a January decision from its lead regulator, in Ireland, where the company is headquartered.

Reusch also told the court Datatilsynet used an expedited process that was unnecessary and did not give the company enough time to answer.

Datatilsynet will present its arguments on Wednesday….