Meta’s threat to leave Nigeria over a regulatory crackdown has been dismissed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, as a pressure tactic, maintaining that Meta Platforms must face the consequences of violating Nigerian laws.
The commission, in a statement issued by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, confirmed it investigated Meta and WhatsApp, collectively referred to as “Meta Parties,” for repeated violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, FCCPA, and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, NDPR.
FCCPC’s response comes on heels of threats by Meta to shut down its WhatsApp and Facebook operations in Nigeria, following a flurry of fines over violations of federal laws.
According to the Commission, Meta Parties engaged in a pattern of misconduct that includes denying Nigerians control over their personal data, unauthorized transfer and sharing of user information, discriminatory practices against Nigerian users compared to those in other jurisdictions, and abusing their dominant market position by imposing unfair privacy terms.
It noted that these are not isolated incidents as Meta has faced and paid steep penalties for similar offenses globally, $1.5 billion in Texas, $1.3 billion in the European Union, and enforcement actions in India, South Korea, France, and Australia.
FCCPC stated that despite being slammed with steep penalties in those countries, Meta complied without threatening to exit.
Recall that a recent ruling by Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upholds the FCCPC’s final order, compelling Meta to align its operations with Nigerian laws, stop exploitative practices, and uphold consumer rights in line with global standards.
“Threatening to leave Nigeria does not erase Meta’s legal liabilities,” the FCCPC said, stressing that it remains firm in protecting consumer rights and ensuring data privacy in Nigeria’s digital marketplace.
