Nigeria fines Meta US$220 million for violating consumer, data laws

Nigeria has fined Meta, the company that owns both Facebook and Instagram, for breaching data and consumer laws.

The amount supposed to be paid to Nigeria’s government is US$220 million.

Based on investigations, Meta was involved in data-sharing without its users consent.

According to Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Meta appropriated the data of Nigerian users on its platforms without their consent, abused its market dominance by forcing privacy policies that exploit users, and meted out discriminatory and disparate treatment on Nigerians, compared with other jurisdictions with similar laws.

Meta, owned by Mark Zuckerberg, decided not to comment on FCCPC’s allegations immediately.

However, FCCPC explained in a statement that Meta had provided some informations and have seek counsels who have met and engaged with the FCCPC agency.

FCCPC chief Adamu Abdullahi said the investigations were jointly held with Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission and spanned over 38 months.

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“Our investigation found out that Meta policies don’t give its users the option to choose if their data can be gathered, used or shared”, Abdullahi stated.

“The totality of the investigation has concluded that Meta over the protracted period of time has engaged in conduct that constituted multiple and repeated, as well as continuing infringements… particularly, but not limited to abusive, and invasive practices against data subjects in Nigeria,” Abdullahi said.

“Being satisfied with the significant evidence on the record, and that Meta has been provided every opportunity to articulate any position, representations, refutations, explanations or defences of their conduct, the Commission have now entered a final order and issued a penalty against Meta,” Abdullahi said.

The final order mandates steps and actions Meta must take to comply with local laws, Abdullahi said.

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In May 2024, Turkey’s Competition board also fined Meta a whooping 1.2 lira following investigations that exposed Meta for Sharing data on its Facebook, Instagram, Thread and WhatsApp platforms.

Meta has faced backlash in Europe and other jurisdictions over alleged breaches of data protection laws.

Meta’s move to use its users’ personal data to train its AI models without seeking consent has sparked with public outrage.

In other news, competition watchdog of South Africa have announced plans to investigate whether digital platforms, including Meta inappropriately compete with news publishers by using their content to generate ad revenue.

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