By Bosun Obafemi
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed Meta’s recent threat to shut down its operations in Nigeria, labeling the move an attempt to pressure the regulator and generate public sympathy amid growing legal challenges over data privacy violations.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs, the FCCPC described Meta’s warning – made through a court filing – as a “calculated move” designed to evade accountability following the imposition of a $220 million fine on the tech giant in July 2024. The fine was levied after a thorough investigation into Meta Platforms Inc. and its subsidiaries, including WhatsApp, for violations of Nigeria’s data protection and consumer laws.
According to the FCCPC, Meta was found to have repeatedly breached the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). Specific offenses included the unauthorized sharing of Nigerian user data, discrimination against Nigerian users compared to those in other regions, and coercing users into accepting unfair privacy terms.
The commission highlighted that Meta had faced similar fines in other jurisdictions – including $1.5 billion in Texas and $1.3 billion in the European Union – but complied with those penalties without resorting to threats of pulling out of those markets. In contrast, the FCCPC argued that Meta’s response in Nigeria amounted to regulatory blackmail.
“The threat to leave Nigeria does not absolve Meta of its responsibilities under Nigerian law nor alter the outcome of judicial proceedings,” Ijagwu stated.
A recent ruling by Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upheld the FCCPC’s sanctions, reinforcing the mandate for Meta to revise its business practices to comply with national standards. This includes respecting user rights, ceasing exploitative data handling practices, and ensuring full adherence to Nigerian laws.
The FCCPC reiterated its commitment to enforcing fairness in the digital market and protecting consumer rights, asserting that no company, regardless of its global stature, is exempt from Nigerian laws.
