Meta to Appeal $220 Million Fine by Nigerian Government Over Data Privacy Breach

Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, has announced plans to appeal the $220 million fine imposed by Nigeria's Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over alleged breaches of data privacy laws.

In a statement, WhatsApp emphasized 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," the statement read. It continued, "In 2021, we went to users globally to explain how talking to businesses, among other things, would work. While there was a lot of confusion then, it has actually proven quite popular."

This reaction came in response to a statement released by FCCPC's acting Executive Chairman, Adamu Abdullahi, accusing Meta of denying Nigerian users control over their data and sharing it without consent, thus abusing its market dominance. The FCCPC’s final order imposed a monetary penalty of $220 million on Meta. The penalty aligns with the FCCPA 2018 and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations 2020.

The FCCPC's investigation, initiated in May 2021, was based on evidence suggesting that Meta had breached the provisions of the FCCPA 2018 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019. These regulations were in effect prior to the enactment and implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. The investigation uncovered evidence of Meta engaging in practices that were abusive and invasive towards data consumers in Nigeria, including collecting personal data without consent and implementing discriminatory practices.

Meta Platforms, Inc., based in Menlo Park, California, is a leading American multinational technology conglomerate that owns and operates popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp. For more information on Meta's products and services, visit Meta's official website.