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Nigerian regulator imposes 220 million dollar fine on Meta for privacy violations and market abuse


The Nigerian Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) orders Meta to pay a fine of 220 million dollar for “obnoxious, exploitative and unscrupulous business practices” by WhatsApp and Meta platforms.

In May 2021, the FCCPC launched an investigation into WhatsApp's updated privacy policy. The new terms and conditions stated that WhatsApp would share user data with Facebook, including IP address, location data, device data and contact information.

Last April, legal representatives of Meta requested a meeting with the Nigerian regulator. They proposed a “remedy package” to address the FCCPC’s concerns. The watchdog however wasn’t convinced the package would offer a solution.

After three years of research, the FCCPC concluded that WhatsApp and other Meta platforms were guilty of repeated privacy violations, infringement of consumer rights and abusing its dominant market position.

For example, the Meta parties transferred and shared personal data of Nigerian citizens across the border without consent, didn’t offer them the option to control their data and the right to be informed to make an informed choice was neglected.

“The final order of the Commission mandates steps and actions Meta Parties must take to comply with prevailing law and cease the exploitation of Nigerian consumers and their market abuse, as well as desist from future similar or other conduct/practices that do not meet nationally applicable standards and undermine the rights of consumers,” the FCCPC states in a press release.

This isn’t the first time Meta has to pay a hefty fine for violating privacy rules. In January 2023, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) imposed a fine of 390 million euro on Meta, because the company unlawfully offered targeted advertisements on Facebook and Instagram for years.

In June 2024, Meta told users it was going to change its privacy policy in order to train an ‘AI technology’, without providing any details. The company also said it was going to make user data available to any third-party.

That caused a lot of ruckus among users and privacy experts. That’s why Meta decided to temporarily pause its AI plans.


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