Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has imposed a $220 million fine on Meta for violating the country’s data protection and privacy laws.
An investigation revealed that Meta appropriated data from Nigerian users without their consent and imposed exploitative privacy policies. Additionally, the company was found to treat Nigerian users unfairly compared to other jurisdictions with similar regulations.
FCCPC chief Adamu Abdullahi stated, “The investigation concluded that Meta engaged in multiple and repeated infringements, including abusive and invasive practices against data subjects in Nigeria.”
The crux of the issue lies in Meta’s failure to allow users to withhold consent for the collection and sharing of their personal data. The FCCPC emphasized that Meta had ample opportunity to defend its practices but failed to provide satisfactory explanations. As a result, the Commission issued a final order and the substantial penalty.
This decision underscores Nigeria’s commitment to protecting user privacy and holding tech giants accountable for their actions, aligning with global trends towards stricter data protection regulations.
