Norway

After nine months of deliberations and some changes on Google's side, the Norwegian Data Protection Authority lifted a ban on the use of Google Apps by municipalities. However, the decision does not give city authorities carte blanche to use all cloud services, according to the Norwegian Data Protection Commissioner.

The use of Google Apps was banned in January by the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, which is known to keep a short leash on use of technology from U.S. IT companies, because the cloud application was violating Norwegian privacy law.

Data has been reportedly stolen from Norway's oil and gas and defence industries in what is considered to be one of the largest cyber espionage cases hitting this Scandinavian country.

It was reported on Thursday that industrial secrets from companies were stolen and "sent out digitally from the country," according to the Norwegian National Security Authority, NSN. However, it did not disclose the names of companies or institutions that were targeted.