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WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is considering pulling certain services from Nigeria after being fined $220 million by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for privacy breaches. Despite Meta’s concerns, Nigerian authorities insist on compliance with local data protection laws.
RELATED: Nigerian government fines Meta $220m for data privacy breaches
The FCCPC, along with the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), conducted a joint investigation revealing that Meta exploited its market power to enforce privacy policies and collected user data without proper consent. As a result, the FCCPC mandated WhatsApp to stop sharing user data with Facebook companies and third parties without explicit consent, disclose data collection practices, and enhance user control over data usage.
In response to what it considers an ‘exit’ threat from WhatsApp, the FCCPC stated on its X (formerly Twitter) handle that its actions are based on legitimate consumer protection and data privacy concerns.
The FCCPC’s investigation found that Meta Platforms and WhatsApp violated multiple provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). These violations included unauthorized data transfers, discriminatory practices against Nigerian users, and abuse of market dominance with unfair privacy policies.
To ensure compliance with Nigerian law and protect consumer rights, the FCCPC imposed the monetary penalty and required Meta to adjust its practices to Nigerian standards. The regulatory body emphasized that similar measures in other jurisdictions have not forced companies to exit those markets, and Nigeria expects no different outcome.
