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Datatilsynet, The Norwegian Data Inspectorate has effectively outlawed many corporate uses of Google Apps within Norway on privacy grounds.

Reports are only just emerging (in Norwegian) that a “Notice of Decision” dated 16th January (pdf, Norwegian) states that Norwegian companies that make use of Google “cloud” services, (known locally nettskyløsning – essentially Google Apps) with its standard terms “violate the law”.

It is unclear at this stage whether the opinion will be challenged in the courts.

The Norwegian authorities cite the US Patriot Act, which gives “U.S. authorities the ability to monitor terrorist suspects without charge or trial” amongst the reasons why a US-lead data protection initiative known as US-EU Safe Harbor was insufficient in itself to guarantee compliance with strict Norwegian data protection laws.