Privacy Law at Norway
Norway enforces robust data protection laws aligned with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), despite not being an EU member. As a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), Norway incorporated the GDPR into its national legislation through the Personal Data Act, effective from July 20, 2018.
🇳🇴 Key Features of Norway's Data Protection Framework
1. *General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The GDPR, applicable across the EEA, governs the processing of personal data, granting individuals enhanced control over their personal information. It establishes principles such as transparency, data minimization, and accountability, and outlines rights including access, rectification, erasure, and data portability.
2. *Personal Data Act
This Act supplements the GDPR by addressing specific national requirements and enforcement mechanism. It mandates that personal data be processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently, with a valid legal basis. Organizations are required to appoint Data Protection Officers (DPOs), maintain records of processing activities, and conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) for high-risk processing.
3. *Norwegian Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet)
Datatilsynet is the independent public authority responsible for overseeing data protection in Norway. It monitors compliance, provides guidance, and has the authority to impose sanctions for violations, including fines up to €20 million or 4% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher.
⚖️ Enforcement Highlight: Meta's Behavioural Advertising Practices
In 2023, Datatilsynet took decisive action against Meta (Facebook and Instagram) for conducting behavioural advertising without explicit user consent, a practice deemed unlawful under the GDP. The authority imposed a daily fine of $100,000, leading Meta to announce a shift in its data processing legal basis from "Legitimate Interests" to "Consent" in the EEA, aligning with GDPR requirement.
📌 Additional Regulations
*Electronic Communications Act: Regulates the use of cookies and similar technologies, implementing the privacy directive.
*National Specifics: Includes provisions on handling national ID numbers, employee data protection, video surveillance, and direct marketing restrictions.
🧭 For Individuals and Organizations
*Complaints: Individuals can file complaints with Datatilsynet regarding data protection violating. The authority provides a digital form for submissions, accessible via BanID.
*Guidance: Datatilsynet offers resources on conducting DPIAs, implementing Data Protection by Design and by Default, and other compliance measures.
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