- The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has imposed a $220 million (over ₦300 billion) fine on Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, claiming it abused the data of Nigerian users.
- This decision follows three years of investigating Meta’s conduct and operations between May 2021 and December 2023 by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC). The authority alleged that the tech giant violated the FCCPC Act 2018, Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019 (NDPR) and other relevant laws.
- However, Meta has disputed the FCCPC’s claim, disagreed with the judgment and the fine, and plans to appeal.
Per a Meta spokesperson, “In 2021, we explained to users globally how talking to businesses, among other things, would work, and while there was a lot of confusion then, it’s actually proven quite popular. We disagree with the decision today as well as the fine, and we are appealing the decision.”
Moreover, the tech titan cooperated during the investigation, with the consumer authority stating that Meta had engaged and met with investigators as recently as April 2024.
The FCCPC accused Meta of abusing its market dominance by enforcing exploitative and non-compliant privacy policies, which collected consumer personal information without allowing users to consent or opt out. These invasive practices have been observed in regions with regulatory frameworks similar to Nigeria's.
In addition to the $220 million fine, the Final Order mandates that Meta take specific actions to comply with Nigerian law and cease similar conduct in the future, adhering to national standards.
This is not the first time Meta has been fined or accused of sharing users' data. In May 2024, a court document revealed that Meta gave Netflix access to Facebook users' direct messages, allowing it to tailor its ads better using the access to user data.
Meanwhile, content creators in Nigeria can now earn money from ad revenue on Meta platforms, including Instagram and Facebook.
