Nigeria fines Meta $220m for consumer privacy violation, data breach

After years of investigations, the Nigerian government slammed US-based tech firm Meta, owners of Facebook and WhatsApp, with $220 million fine for violating consumer rights and data breaches.

The acting Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, disclosed this in a statement to DAILY POST on Friday.

The consumer competition watchdog said after investigations that the data-sharing on social platforms violated local consumer, data protection and privacy laws.

The commission said Meta appropriated the data of Nigerian users on its platforms without their consent, abused its market dominance by forcing exploitative privacy policies on users, and meted out discriminatory and disparate treatment on Nigerians, compared with other jurisdictions with similar regulations.

The commission’ chief, Abdullahi, explained that the investigations were jointly conducted with Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission and spanned over 38 months.

The investigations found Meta policies don’t allow users the option or opportunity to self-determine or withhold consent to the gathering, use, and sharing of personal data.

“The totality of the investigation has concluded that Meta over the protracted period has engaged in conduct that constituted multiple and repeated, as well as continuing infringements, particularly, but not limited to, abusive and invasive practices against data subjects in Nigeria,” Abdullahi said.

“Being satisfied with the significant evidence on the record, and that Meta has been provided every opportunity to articulate any position, representations, refutations, explanations or defences of their conduct, the Commission has now entered a final order and issued a penalty against Meta,” Abdullahi said.

Meanwhile, Meta has yet to speak on the sanction.