The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has criticized Meta’s threat to exit Nigeria as an attempt to influence public opinion and coerce the commission to reverse its decision.
The FCCPC reiterated the legitimacy of the $220 million fine imposed on Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, for unauthorized appropriation of personal data without user consent and discriminatory practices against Nigerian users.
Meta’s threat followed the FCCPC’s July 19, 2024 decision to penalize the tech giant. Despite plans to appeal the ruling, Meta, through WhatsApp, stated on Thursday that the penalty would impact its services and operations in Nigeria.
“WhatsApp relies on limited data to run our service and keep users safe, and it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria, or globally, without Meta’s infrastructure,” WhatsApp claimed. “This order contains multiple inaccuracies and misrepresents how WhatsApp works, and we are urgently appealing the order to avoid any impact on users.”
In response, the FCCPC, via its official X account, accused Meta of discriminatory practices and abusing its dominant market position by imposing unfair privacy policies on Nigerian users. The commission emphasized that its actions aimed to foster a fair digital market and protect consumer rights in Nigeria.
“WhatsApp’s claim that it may be forced to exit Nigeria due to FCCPC’s recent order appears to be a strategic move aimed at influencing public opinion and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision,” the FCCPC stated. “The FCCPC investigated Meta Platforms and WhatsApp for allegedly violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation.”
The FCCPC underscored that the $220 million fine was intended to deter future violations and ensure accountability. “The FCCPC’s actions are based on legitimate concerns about consumer protection and data privacy. The order is a positive step towards a fairer digital market in Nigeria. Similar measures are taken in other jurisdictions without forcing companies to leave the market. The case of Nigeria will not be different.”
The commission called on Meta to comply with Nigerian laws, respect consumer rights, and change its practices to meet Nigerian standards.
Last week, Daily Post reported that Meta removed 63,000 Facebook accounts of Nigerian users suspected of engaging in financial sextortion.
