The Federal Government has imposed a $220 million fine on Meta Platforms for unauthorized personal data appropriation, discriminatory practices against Nigerian users, and abuse of its dominant market position.
In a statement released on Friday, a 38-month joint investigation with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) found that Meta’s data privacy practices and market behavior violated Nigerian laws.
The investigation, which spanned from May 2021 to December 2023, examined Meta’s privacy policies and practices, uncovering multiple breaches of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
Violations included the unauthorized use of personal data without user consent, discriminatory treatment of Nigerian users, and exploitation of Meta’s market dominance.
The investigation revealed that Meta engaged in abusive practices against Nigerian data subjects, such as unauthorized cross-border data transfers and forcing users to accept exploitative privacy policies.
The FCCPC’s final order mandates that Meta take several corrective actions to comply with Nigerian laws. These include ensuring Nigerian users’ right to data self-determination, halting unauthorized data transfers, and eliminating discriminatory practices. The order also imposes a $220 million penalty on Meta, underscoring the severity of the violations.
The statement highlighted Meta’s infractions, including denying Nigerian data subjects the right to self-determination, unauthorized cross-border data transfers, discriminatory practices, and abuse of market dominance. The FCCPC emphasized that Meta must cease the exploitation of Nigerian consumers and adhere to national standards to protect consumer rights.
Additionally, the statement noted that the penalty aligns with the FCCPA 2018 and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations 2020 (APR).
In a related development, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) received approval from a Federal High Court in Abuja in May 2023 to serve a writ of summons on Meta. ARCON seeks a declaration that Meta’s publication of advertisements and marketing materials targeted at Nigeria without prior approval from the Advertising Standards Panel is illegal.
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