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Meta has announced its intention to appeal a $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for alleged violations of Nigeria’s data privacy laws. The social media giant expressed its plans to contest the decision in a statement issued by WhatsApp to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.
“We disagree with today’s decision and the imposed fine, and Meta will be appealing the decision. In 2021, we communicated globally to users about how engaging with businesses would work, and while there was initial confusion, it has since proven popular,” the company stated.
Sharing Users’ Data Without Consent
The FCCPC accused Meta of denying Nigerian users control over their data, sharing users’ data without consent, and abusing its market dominance. Consequently, the FCCPC imposed a monetary penalty of $220 million based on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations 2020.
The FCCPC, in collaboration with the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC), initiated a joint investigation in May 2021 after receiving evidence that Meta had breached the FCCPA 2018 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019. These regulations were in place before the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
Investigation Uncovers Evidence of Abusive and Invasive Practices
The FCCPC’s investigation uncovered evidence of Meta engaging in abusive and invasive practices towards Nigerian data consumers, including collecting personal data without consent and implementing discriminatory practices against Nigerians.
Meta Platforms, Inc., commonly known as Meta, is an American multinational technology conglomerate based in Menlo Park, California. The company owns and operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, among other products and services.
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