By Ademola Tijani
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Agency (FCCPA) has clarified the rationale behind the imposition of a $220m fine on the so-called ‘Meta Parties’ (Meta Platforms and WhatsApp), saying the ‘Parties’ violated the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) through multiple and repeated infringements.
FCCPA said the clarification became necessary in response to claims by the Meta Parties that they had not violated any Nigerian laws relating to their operation to warrant the fine, insisting that the Parties’ reaction to the fine was a strategic move aimed at influencing public opinion and potentially pressuring the FCCPA to reconsider its decision.
In a post on its verified official X handle, the FCCPA disclosed that the Meta Parties’ infringements included denying Nigerians the right to control their personal data, transferring and sharing Nigerian user data without authorization, discriminating against Nigerian users compared to users in other jurisdictions, and abusing their dominant market position by imposing unfair privacy policies.
Justifying the imposition of penalties on the Meta Parties, the FCCPA stated: “The final order requires Meta Parties to take steps to comply with Nigerian law, stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, change their practices to meet Nigerian standards, and respect consumer rights. To deter future violations and ensure accountability for the alleged infringements, the FCCPA also imposed a monetary penalty of $220 million.”
