FCCPC REJECTS META’S THREAT TO EXIT NIGERIA, UPHOLDS $220 MILLION FINE (PHOTO).

 FCCPC Rejects Meta’s Threat to Exit Nigeria, Upholds $220 Million Fine

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed Meta’s threat to exit Nigeria, asserting that the social media giant remains accountable for its legal obligations regardless of its decision to leave the country. The agency emphasized that ongoing judicial proceedings against Meta will not be affected by the company’s warnings.

In a statement issued on Saturday by FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission accused Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, of attempting to garner public sympathy and pressure regulators through its threat to shut down services in Nigeria. The FCCPC described WhatsApp’s warning as a tactic to sway its regulatory decisions.

The response follows Meta’s statement that it might be “forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria” to avoid enforcement measures. The controversy stems from a $220 million fine imposed on Meta by the FCCPC on July 19, 2024, for multiple data privacy violations. The fine was the result of an investigation into Meta and WhatsApp (collectively referred to as the “Meta Parties”) for breaching the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) of 2018 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).

The FCCPC’s investigation revealed that Meta repeatedly violated Nigerian regulations by denying users control over their data, sharing user information without consent, discriminating against Nigerian users compared to those in other countries, and abusing its market dominance through unfair privacy policies.

On April 25, the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upheld the $220 million fine, reinforcing the FCCPC’s stance. The FCCPC noted that Meta has faced similar penalties globally, including $1.5 billion in Texas, $1.3 billion for breaching EU data privacy rules, and fines in India, South Korea, France, and Australia. The agency pointed out that Meta complied with regulations in those countries without resorting to threats of exit, unlike its approach in Nigeria.

The FCCPC firmly stated that Meta’s threat to leave Nigeria would not compel the agency to reconsider its decision. The Commission urged Meta to comply with Nigerian laws and reiterated its commitment to protecting consumer rights and enforcing regulatory standards.