Nigeria has fined Meta $220 million for breaking data protection and consumer rights laws on Facebook and WhatsApp.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) found that Meta shared Nigerians’ data without permission, denied consumers control over their data, and abused its market power.
Despite having the chance to defend itself, Meta couldn’t convince the FCCPC, which then issued the fine. Meta hasn’t commented yet.
Nigeria, with its 154 million internet users, requires companies to follow its Data Protection Regulation. Meta has failed to do so, not hiring a Data Protection Compliance Organization or submitting necessary reports for two years.
The investigation started in May 2021 with WhatsApp’s privacy policy update. Meta’s proposed solutions didn’t address the FCCPC’s concerns, leading to the hefty fine and a demand for compliance with local laws.
Image: DIW-Aigen
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