Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has been hit with a hefty $220 million (over ₦300 billion) fine by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) of Nigeria. The company is accused of misusing the data of Nigerian users.
This penalty follows a three-year investigation (from May 2021 to December 2023) conducted by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC). The investigation concluded that Meta had violated several laws, including the FCCPC Act 2018 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019 (NDPR).
Meta is not accepting these charges quietly. They disagree with the allegations and the fine, and they plan to appeal the decision.
Despite the dispute, Meta has cooperated with the investigation. The FCCPC noted that Meta met with investigators as recently as April 2024.
The FCCPC accused Meta of exploiting its market power by enforcing invasive privacy policies and collecting users’ data without proper consent.
In addition to the fine, the Final Order mandates that Meta comply with Nigerian laws and cease these practices, adhering to national standards moving forward.