Meta faces heightened scrutiny and fines from Nigerian regulators demanding respect for local data protection and consumer rights.
Meta , the parent company of Facebook , Instagram and WhatsApp, was recently hit with three fines totalling more than US$290 million in Nigeria . The fines were imposed by Nigeria ’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Nigeria n Data Protection Commission and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria . Meta was accused of invasive practices against data subjects and consumers in Nigeria . The company denied the allegations and has challenged the fines in court.
Meta has allegedly not complied with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and failed to appoint a Data Protection Compliance Organisation. That’s an entity licensed to assist data controllers and processors in achieving compliance with Nigeria’s data protection regulations. And it has not submitted its mandatory Nigeria Data Protection Regulation reports for two consecutive years.
Unauthorised data sharing: Meta was found to have shared Nigerian users’ personal data without their consent. This included cross-border transfers and storage, violating the Nigeria Data Protection Commission and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act. Tying and bundling: Meta was found to have engaged in tying and bundling practices, which are considered anti-competitive. Tying occurs when a company requires customers to buy a secondary product or service as a condition of buying a primary product or service. For example, if Meta required users to accept Facebook’s terms and automatically enrol in WhatsApp or Instagram services to use Facebook, then that could be considered tying.
After completing its inquiry, the agency shared its findings with Meta. The company proposed a “remedy package”. But the commission rejected this as inadequate. The three fines and regulatory measures may also compel Meta to reassess its operations in Nigeria. It might adjust its services to align with local laws.
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