Nigeria Fines Meta $220 Million for Data Breaches and Consumer Rights Violations
In a major blow to social media giant Meta, the Nigerian government has slapped the company with a $220 million fine for violating consumer rights and data protection laws. The fine, issued by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), follows an investigation that spanned over 38 months and was conducted jointly with the Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission.
According to the FCCPC, Meta, the owner of Facebook and WhatsApp, was found to have shared the data of Nigerian users on its platforms without their consent, abused its market dominance by forcing exploitative privacy policies on users, and provided discriminatory and disparate treatment to Nigerians compared to other jurisdictions with similar regulations.
The investigation revealed that Meta’s policies do not allow users to self-determine or withhold consent to the gathering, use, and sharing of their personal data. The commission’s chief, Abdullahi, stated that the investigation concluded that Meta had engaged in “abusive and invasive practices” against data subjects in Nigeria.
Abdullahi emphasized that the commission had provided Meta with every opportunity to respond to the allegations, but the company has yet to comment on the sanction. The fine is a significant one, and it sends a strong message to tech companies operating in Nigeria that they must respect the country’s consumer rights and data protection laws.
The implications of this fine are far-reaching, and it remains to be seen how Meta will respond to the allegations. One thing is certain, however: the Nigerian government is serious about protecting its citizens’ data and ensuring that tech companies operate transparently and fairly.