Norway: Closed consultation on government review of the Personal Data Act considering legal changes following the Meta case

On 1 October 2024, the Norwegian Government closes its public consultation on the review of the Personal Data Act, considering legal changes following the Meta case. The objective is to ensure that the Data Protection Authority has the necessary tools and that the law is up-to-date. Justice and Public Security Minister emphasised the importance of updating the law to protect individual privacy rights. The Personal Data Act, which has been in effect since 20 July 2018, implements the EU's GDPR in Norwegian law. The Ministry of Justice and Public Security will conduct a post-evaluation of the Act and has invited written input, focusing on the Data Protection Authority's tools, especially regarding large social media platforms, and the possibility of imposing fines. The government recognises the rapid development in this field and the significant power held by international technological companies. This review is partly in response to a decision by the Privacy Appeals Board on 18 June 2024, which annulled the Data Protection Authority's decision to impose a fine due to a lack of legal basis.