WhatsApp Exit: Ex-FCCPC Chief, Irukera, Defends $220 Million Fine

Immediate past Chief Executive Officer of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Babatunde Irukera, has defended $220 million fine slammed on WhatsApp and Meta Company for violating data privacy of Nigeria citizens.

Babatunde Irukera said the threat by WhatsApp that it would exit Nigeria’s market was rhetoric. Irukera argued that WhatsApp cannot dictate how it would run its business in the country, contrary to rules governing business operations in the country.

Irukera said Meta paid $1.4 billion in Texas in a case of privacy violation. He added that many countries have also slammed the company for data violation policy and there was no threat of exit.

In a statement, on his X handle, on Thursday, the former FCCPC boss decried that Nigerians chose to pay attention to WhatsApp’s threat, than the intention of FCCPC to defend citizens’ privacy rights.

He noted that what mattered should be the violation of data privacy of Nigerians by WhatsApp. He further advised Meta company to take legal action if it deemed that the $220 million fine was out of place.

In reaction to a report by a news platform on WhatsApp’s threat to exit Nigeria market, Irukera said, “This is pure rhetoric. That a company disregards the nation enough to threaten departure or be allowed to do its biz the way it pleases in violation of law reflects poor governance and compliance culture by the coy and its people. That we feed into it as a people is more unfortunate.

“Same coy just settled a Texas case for $1.4B, is currently facing regulatory action in at least a dozen nations, appealing large penalties in several countries. How many has it threatened to exist? Biz who blackmail to continue impunity exploit, not explore the country.

“The only people who make this rhetoric newsworthy are us Nigerians who pay any attention. The question is whether they violated the law. If they didn’t, appeal as they have and let the legal process run its course. Empty threats to browbeat a nation is condemnable and reprehensible.“