WhatsApp announced that its parent company, Meta, will appeal against the $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for violating Nigeria’s data privacy laws.
In a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos, WhatsApp stated: “We disagree with the decision and the fine, and Meta will be appealing. In 2021, we informed users globally about how business interactions would work, and although there was initial confusion, it has since become quite popular.”
This response followed a statement from the FCCPC, signed by acting Executive Chairman Adamu Abdullahi, which accused Meta of denying Nigerian users control over their data, sharing user data without consent, and abusing its market dominance. The FCCPC imposed a $220 million fine on Meta, as per the FCCPA 2018 and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations 2020.
The FCCPC began its investigation in May 2021, based on evidence suggesting that Meta, through its platforms, breached the FCCPA 2018 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019, which were in effect before the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. Meta responded to document requests and engaged with investigators and analysts from the FCCPC and the NDPC, including a meeting as recently as April 4, 2024.
The investigation revealed that Meta engaged in practices abusive and invasive to Nigerian data consumers, such as collecting personal data without consent and discriminatory practices.
Meta Platforms, Inc., based in Menlo Park, California, owns and operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, among other products and services.
