FCCPC fines Meta $220 million for data protection violations

Meta announces another round of layoffs

In a statement shared with a national news station, the FCCPC said Meta violated local consumer and data protection laws with its data-sharing tactics on Facebook and WhatsApp.

In a statement signed by Adamu Abdullahi, acting executive chairman, the commission said Meta had abused its dominant market position, deprived Nigerian consumers of control over their data and exchanged data without their consent.

The judgment stated: “The Final Order also imposes a monetary penalty in the amount of Two Hundred Twenty Million U.S. Dollars ($220,000,000.00) (at the applicable exchange rate, if applicable), which penalty is consistent with the FCCPA of 2018 and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations of 2020.”

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019, which were in force prior to the enactment and implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, were allegedly breached by Meta through its platforms. This information prompted the FCCPC to announce that it had launched an investigation in May 2021.

The Competition Authority noted that Meta had provided certain information in response to subpoenas and document requests.

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According to it: “Meta representatives and their retained lawyers have been continuously cooperating and meeting with investigators and analysts from the commission and the NDPC, including as recently as April 4, 2024.”

The FCCPC said its investigation found evidence that Meta had misused and violated the data of Nigerian users. This included discriminatory behavior against Nigerians and unauthorized collection of personal information.

Before making his final decision, he stressed that Meta had the right to defend itself during the investigation. The order alleges violations, in particular, in relation to: “Denying the right of self-determination to Nigerian data subjects; unauthorized transfer and sharing of personal data of Nigerian data subjects, including cross-border storage in violation of applicable law then and now; discrimination and unequal treatment; abuse of Dominance; and tying and grouping.”