The Nigerian government has imposed a $220 million fine on Facebook Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, for multiple and repeated violations of data protection and consumer rights laws.
On July 19, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) issued a statement accusing Meta of breaching Nigerian laws aimed at safeguarding personal data and consumer rights on its platforms, Facebook and WhatsApp.
The investigation, conducted jointly by the FCCPC and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission from May 2021 to December 2023, uncovered Meta’s “invasive practices” in Nigeria.
According the FCCPC, the inquiry revealed that Meta engaged in discriminatory practices, abused its dominant market position, utilized personal data without authorization, and deprived Nigerians of their right to determine how their data was used.
In addition to the substantial fine, Meta has been instructed to comply with Nigerian laws, stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, and avoid any similar conduct or practices in the future.
Facebook Meta has yet to respond to the fine. The FCCPC noted that Meta was aware of the investigation, which spanned thirty-eight months.
With nearly three-quarters of Nigeria’s 200 million population being under the age of 24 and heavy users of social media, the country represents a significant market for platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. As of March, Nigeria had approximately 164.3 million internet subscriptions, according to the Nigerian authorities.
Meta’s platforms are among the most popular in Nigeria. In December, Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, estimated that WhatsApp alone had over 51 million users in the country.
This sanction by the Nigerian authorities comes after that of European Union (EU) early this month. The EU accused Mark Zuckerberg’s company of not respecting its rules for using personal data, paving the way for heavy financial sanctions.
AfrikPage
Facebook Meta fined $220 million by Nigeria
