Meta Reacts To $220 Million Fine Imposed by FCCPC

WhatsApp has announced that its parent company, Meta, will be appealing a $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for alleged violations of Nigeria’s data privacy laws.

In a statement released on Saturday, WhatsApp expressed its disagreement with the FCCPC’s decision and the accompanying fine. “We disagree with the decision today as well as the fine, and Meta will be appealing the decision,” the statement read. The company highlighted that in 2021, it had clarified to users globally how communications with businesses would function, acknowledging initial confusion but noting its popularity over time.

The FCCPC’s action follows a statement from its acting Executive Chairman, Adamu Abdullahi, asserting that Meta had denied Nigerian users control over their data and shared this data without consent, thus abusing its market dominance.

The commission’s final order imposes a monetary penalty of $220 million on Meta, in line with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations 2020.

The FCCPC initiated its investigation in May 2021 based on evidence suggesting that Meta, through its platforms, had breached the FCCPA 2018 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019. These regulations were enforced before the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

According to the FCCPC, Meta responded to document requests and summonses, providing some information and engaging with investigators and analysts from both the commission and the NDPC, including as recently as April 4, 2024. The investigation uncovered evidence of Meta engaging in practices that were abusive and invasive towards Nigerian data consumers, including collecting personal data without consent and implementing discriminatory practices.

Meta Platforms, Inc., headquartered in Menlo Park, California, is an American multinational technology conglomerate that owns and operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, among other products and services.