The Federal Government of Nigeria, through its consumer protection watchdog, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has imposed a $220 million fine on United States social media company, Meta, for allegedly violating antitrust, data protection, and consumer rights laws in Nigeria. Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The FCCPC accused Meta of engaging in discriminatory practices, abusing market dominance, and sharing personal data of Nigerians without their consent. The watchdog further alleged that Meta denied Nigerians the right to determine how their data is used.
The FCCPC CEO, Adamu Abdullahi said the Commission commenced investigations in May 2021 and that it lasted 38 months, and stated that there are significant evidence of Meta’s “invasive practices against data subjects in Nigeria.” Mr. Abdullahi stressed that Meta must “comply with the prevailing law and cease the exploitation of Nigerian consumers and their market abuse.”
The Commission ordered Meta to “desist from future similar or other conduct/practices that do not meet nationally applicable standards.” Despite being aware of the FCCPC’s investigation, Meta’s proposed remedy package failed to address the commission’s initial concerns.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, boasts approximately 164 million internet subscriptions out of a total population of 200 million. Social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram are immensely popular, particularly among Nigeria’s youthful population—around three-quarters of whom are under the age of 24.
Communication Minister Bosun Tijani said in December 2023 that Nigeria has “over 51 million WhatsApp users,” underscoring the platform’s widespread usage.
Nigeria’s action against Meta is part of a broader trend of the governments holding tech giants accountable for antitrust and data collection breaches. Earlier this month, the European Union also accused Meta of similar violations, reflecting growing global scrutiny of the company’s practices.
