The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has declared that Meta’s potential exit from Nigeria will not exempt it from accountability over data privacy violations and consumer rights breaches.
In a statement by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC criticized WhatsApp’s claim of being forced out of Nigeria due to recent sanctions as a tactic to sway public opinion and pressure regulators.
Following an investigation, the FCCPC found Meta Platforms and WhatsApp guilty of repeated breaches of Nigeria’s Competition Act and Data Protection Regulation. Offenses included unauthorized data sharing, unfair treatment of Nigerian users, and abuse of market dominance through exploitative privacy policies.
Ijagwu noted Meta had faced similar penalties in the U.S., EU, India, South Korea, and Australia—without threatening to exit those countries. “Meta complied elsewhere, but is now using blackmail tactics in Nigeria,” he said.
The Commission emphasized that the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has upheld its ruling, mandating Meta to align its practices with Nigerian laws and respect consumer rights.
The FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerian consumers and ensuring a fair digital economy.
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