The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has stated that Meta’s threat to withdraw from Nigeria does not exempt the social media giant from its legal obligations.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission clarified that any ongoing judicial proceedings will not be invalidated by Meta’s potential departure.
The FCCPC described WhatsApp’s warning of possibly ceasing operations in Nigeria as a ploy to generate public sympathy and exert pressure on the regulator to reverse its decision.
This follows Meta’s warning that it “may be compelled to effectively discontinue Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures”.
On July 19, 2024, the FCCPC imposed a $220 million fine on Meta for multiple breaches of data privacy regulations. Meta, which also owns WhatsApp, was investigated for violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The Commission revealed that the Meta entities repeatedly infringed on Nigerian consumers’ rights by:
- denying them control over their personal data,
- transferring user data without consent,
- discriminating against Nigerian users in comparison to others globally, and
- abusing their market dominance by enforcing unfair privacy policies.
On April 25, the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upheld the fine, ordering Meta to comply with Nigerian regulations and halt exploitative practices.
The FCCPC also noted that Meta had faced similar penalties in the EU, Texas, India, South Korea, France, and Australia — but never threatened to exit those countries.
The Commission said, “Meta’s approach in Nigeria is inconsistent with its conduct elsewhere, where it complied with regulatory decisions without resorting to threats.
“A threat to leave Nigeria does not erase legal responsibility stemming from a judicial process.
“The FCCPC remains resolute in protecting consumer rights and ensuring a fair digital marketplace in Nigeria.”