Nigeria Fines Meta $220 Million for Consumer and Data Law Violations
Nigeria's Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has fined Meta Platforms $220 million for violating local consumer, data protection, and privacy laws. The fines were imposed following investigations into data-sharing practices on Meta's Facebook and WhatsApp platforms. The FCCPC accused Meta of appropriating Nigerian users' data without their consent and abusing its market dominance. Additionally, the commission highlighted that Nigerian users were subjected to discriminatory treatment compared to other regions with similar regulations.
The joint investigation by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission examined Meta's conduct and privacy practices between May 2021 and December 2023. The findings indicated ongoing infringements, including the inappropriate use of personal data without consent. Meta has yet to respond to these allegations.
