Nigeria fines Meta $220M for data law violations

Last week, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) of Nigeria fined Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, $220 million for breaching data and consumer protection laws. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, was found guilty of multiple violations according to an order issued by the FCCPC.

Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, executive vice chairman and CEO of the FCCPC, stated that the investigation into Meta's practices spanned 38 months, from May 2021 to December 2023. The FCCPC's findings revealed that Meta repeatedly violated Nigerian data protection laws, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA). Specific violations included denying Nigerian data subjects the right to self-determination, unauthorized transfer and sharing of personal data, discrimination and disparate treatment, abuse of market dominance, and illegal tying and bundling practices.

Abdullahi emphasized that the injunction is meant to enforce compliance and protect Nigerian consumers from exploitation. “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,” he stated.