The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed claims made by WhatsApp that it may be compelled to exit Nigeria following a recent directive issued by the Commission.
According to the FCCPC, the statement is a deliberate attempt to provoke public backlash and exert pressure on the Commission to reverse its decision.
In a statement signed by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission explained that it had conducted an investigation into Meta Platforms and WhatsApp (collectively referred to as the “Meta Parties”) over alleged breaches of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The FCCPC reiterated its dedication to upholding regulations that safeguard consumer rights and promote fair competition, stressing that its actions serve the best interests of Nigerian users and the general public.
“The Commission’s findings revealed that the Meta Parties committed several repeated violations of the FCCPA (2018) and the NDPR. These violations include depriving Nigerian users of control over their personal data, unauthorized transfer and sharing of Nigerian user data, discriminatory practices against Nigerian users when compared with other countries, and the imposition of unjust privacy policies by leveraging their dominant market position.
“Notably, Meta has faced similar sanctions globally. It was fined $1.5 billion in Texas and recently ordered to pay $1.3 billion for breaching EU data privacy laws. Meta has also been penalized in India, South Korea, France, and Australia for related offenses, yet never responded by threatening to leave those markets.
“The recent ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal affirming the FCCPC’s final order mandates the Meta Parties to comply with Nigerian laws, end exploitative practices targeting Nigerian consumers, and adjust their operations to align with both Nigerian standards and international best practices,” the statement added.
The FCCPC clarified that threatening to exit Nigeria does not exempt Meta from accountability following a judicial ruling.
“To be clear, the FCCPC remains resolute in its mission to protect consumer rights and uphold data privacy, working towards a more equitable digital environment in Nigeria,” the Commission stated.
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…By Ani Juliana.
