The European Data Protection Board said Wednesday it had adopted a binding decision that will result in Facebook and Instagram owner Meta being banned from using the personal data of users for targeted advertisements.

The order will “impose a ban on the processing of personal data for behavioural advertising on the legal bases of contract and legitimate interest across the entire European Economic Area,” the EDPB said in a statement posted on its website.

The EDPD said it took the decision following a request from Norway’s data regulator, which earlier this year imposed a ban on sending Facebook and Instagram users targeted advertisements based on their personal data which the social media platform collects without their explicit consent.

The EDPB decision forces Ireland’s data regulator, which has authority over Meta’s operations in Europe, to take final measures on the issue within two weeks, with a ban to enter force a week later.

The statement said Meta was informed Tuesday of the EDPB’s decision and indicated that it plans to ask for consent to use personal data to target ads that users see when they use the apps.

“The EDPB takes note of Meta’s proposal to rely on a consent based approach as legal basis” and said this was being evaluated.

Facebook had some 300 million daily users in Europe at the end of 2022, out of about two billion users worldwide, with Europeans generating about a fifth of Meta’s advertising sales.

Losing the ability to target ads may deal a financial blow to Meta if advertisers reduce their spending.

EDPB Chairwoman Anu Talus said in a statement that the decision to impose a ban was taken after Meta was found not to have complied with orders issued at the end of least year.

“It is high time for Meta to bring its processing into compliance and to stop unlawful processing,” she said.

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said the party’s parliamentary board will take a decision on who will be the next chief minister of Madhya Pradesh after it wins the November 17 assembly elections and forms a government in the state.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s move of fielding seven Lok Sabha members, including three Union ministers – Narendra Singh Tomar, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Prahlad Patel – and also party’s general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya for the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls has signalled that has kept options open for the state’s top post.

Addressing a press conference here, former Union minister Prasad said, “It is the tradition of the party that the parliamentary board takes the decision…And opinion of MLAs will be taken when the government is formed. A deserving person will become the chief minister.”

He was replying to a question about who could be the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh if the BJP wins.

During a media interaction in August this year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had refused to give a direct reply, when asked if incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will continue to be the chief minister if the BJP retains power after the elections.

“Why are you (media) doing the party’s work? Our party will do its own work. Shivraj ji is chief minister and we are in the election…Take the development works of Modi ji (PM Modi) and Shivraj ji to the public. Also highlight if the Congress did any development,” Mr Shah had said.

Targeting the opposition Congress, Mr Prasad said when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, PM Narendra Modi condemned it, but at the same time, India helped the needy persons in Palestine.

“But the stand of the Congress has been the same as that of the Muslim League in Kerala. A Hamas leader addressed a rally in Kerala but Congress is maintaining silence on the issue. Did the Congress oppose when INDIA bloc constituents termed Sanatana Dharma as dengue and malaria?” he asked.

On the one hand the Congress keeps silence when Sanatan Dharmaa is insulted, while on the other it tries to connect with Hamas for votes, the BJP MP alleged.

Elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly will be held on November 17.

Mumbai is at 4th position among 46 cities globally in terms of price rise of luxury residential properties, according to Knight Frank.

Real estate consultant Knight Frank India on Wednesday released ‘Prime Global Cities Index Q3 2023’ and said Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi recorded an increase in average annual prices of prime residential or luxury homes in the July-September period.

“Mumbai recorded the 4th highest year-on-year growth in prime residential prices in Q3 2023. The 6.5 per cent increase in prime residential prices has moved the city up by 18 places from 22nd rank in Q3 2022,” Knight Frank said.

New Delhi and Bengaluru also recorded an upward movement in their index rankings.

NCR moved to 10th in the third quarter (July-September) of 2023 with a growth of 4.1 per cent year-on-year from 36th rank in the year-ago period.

Bengaluru’s rank increased to 17th rank in the quarter under review against 27th rank in the third quarter of 2022, a year-on-year growth of 2.2 per cent.