The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta Platforms Inc., has been fined $220 million by the federal government for allegedly violating data privacy laws.
Citing violations under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations 2020 (APR), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) announced the penalty in a statement released on Friday, July 19.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC Adamu Abdullahi said that Meta was found guilty of multiple offences, such as the improper sharing and transfer of Nigerian data, transnational storage infractions, unfair treatment and discrimination, abuse of dominance, and tying and bundling practices. Furthermore, Meta was charged with violating the right to self-determination of Nigerian data subjects with relation to their personal data.
The fine demonstrates the Nigerian government’s dedication to upholding data privacy regulations and safeguarding its citizens’ personal information. The FCCPC’s efforts are part of a global trend towards more stringent regulation and oversight of tech companies due to privacy concerns.
The statement read;
“On May 2021, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (Commission) based on available evidence and sufficient probable cause issued an Order and Notice to Show Cause (ONSC) to WhatsApp LLC and Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly called Facebook Inc.) jointly referred to as ‘Meta Parties’ in respect to this investigation.
“The subject of the ONSC was to relay the Commission’s investigative report in respect of its findings that the Meta Parties by their conduct have violated the above stated provisions of the FCCPA and NDPR (which was in force prior to the enactment and operationalisation of the NDPA (Nigeria Data Protection Act), 2023) and for the Meta Parties to show reasonable cause why the Commission should not proceed to enter its orders as final and enforceable pursuant to the FCCPA, particularly sections 17, 18, 155, and 159.
“The Final Order more elaborately describes the specific conduct or practices of the Meta Parties, relationship between Meta Parties with respect to the infringements, particularly with regard to: Denying Nigerian data subjects the right to self-determine; Unauthorized transfer and sharing of Nigerian data-subjects personal data, including cross- border storage in violation of then, and now prevailing law; Discrimination and disparate treatment; Abuse of Dominance; and Tying and bundling.
“The Final Order of the Commission mandates steps and actions Meta Parties must take to comply with prevailing law and cease the exploitation of Nigerian consumers and their market abuse, as well as desist from future similar or other conduct/practices that do not meet nationally applicable standards and undermine the rights of consumers.
“The Final order also imposes a monetary penalty of Two Hundred and Twenty Million U.S. Dollars only ($220,000,000.00) (at prevailing exchange rate where applicable) which penalty is in accordance with the FCCPA 2018, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations 2020 (APR).”
