The European regulator forbade Facebook and Instagram to process personal data of users for contextual advertising

The European Data Protection Council banned META, which owns the social networks of Facebook and Instagram, to process personal data of users to publish contextual advertising. As stated in the regulator’s statement, the execution of the decision is entrusted with the Irish data protection commission, which should take appropriate measures against Meta Ireland Limited - the European division of META.

The ban will enter into force within two weeks and will spread to the entire European economic zone . Earlier, the Norwegian data protection department turned to the European regulator with a request to make a final decision on the issue of contextual advertising. In Norway, such an advertisement has been prohibited since July.

In case of violation of the prohibition of META, a fine of up to 4% global turnover faces, Reuters reports with reference to the Norwegian regulator. The company said that they would provide European users with the form of consent to the processing of personal data that meets new requirements.