The Nigerian government has slapped a $220 million fine on Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, for violations related to consumer privacy and data protection.
This penalty comes after a protracted investigation by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission, which spanned over 38 months.
The FCCPC’s acting Executive Vice Chairman, Abdullahi, detailed the findings in a statement, noting that Meta’s data-sharing practices on its platforms violated Nigerian consumer and data protection laws. Abdullahi said, “The investigation revealed that Meta engaged in practices that allowed the company to appropriate Nigerian users’ data without their consent. We found that Meta abused its market dominance by imposing exploitative privacy policies on Nigerian users.”
The commission found that Meta’s policies did not provide Nigerian users with adequate options to control or withhold consent regarding the collection, use, and sharing of their personal data. Abdullahi emphasized, “Meta’s conduct constituted multiple and repeated infringements, marked by abusive and invasive practices against data subjects in Nigeria.”
Abdullahi further explained, “Being satisfied with the substantial evidence on record, and given that Meta had every opportunity to present their position or defenses, the Commission has now issued a final order and penalty against Meta.”
Meta has yet to comment on the sanction.
