Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced its intention to appeal a $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for violating Nigeria’s data privacy laws.
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In a statement released by WhatsApp on Saturday in Lagos, the organization expressed its disagreement with the FCCPC’s decision.
“We disagree with the decision today as well as the fine, and Meta will be appealing the decision,” WhatsApp stated.
“In 2021, we informed users globally about how interactions with businesses would work, which initially caused confusion but has since proven popular.”
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The FCCPC, in a statement signed by its acting Executive Chairman, Adamu Abdullahi, detailed Meta’s violations, including denying Nigerian users control over their data, sharing data without consent, and abusing its market dominance.
The commission’s final order imposed a $220 million fine on Meta, in line with the FCCPA 2018 and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations 2020.
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The investigation, initiated in May 2021, scrutinized Meta’s compliance with the FCCPA 2018 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019.
The FCCPC stated that these regulations were in effect before the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 came into force.
Meta responded to the FCCPC’s document requests and summons, and its representatives and legal counsel engaged with the commission and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) up until April 2024.
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The FCCPC’s investigation uncovered evidence of Meta’s abusive and invasive practices towards Nigerian data consumers.
These practices included collecting personal data without consent and implementing discriminatory policies against Nigerians.
Meta Platforms, Inc., based in Menlo Park, California, is a multinational technology conglomerate that owns and operates major social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.
