Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has been fined $220 million by Nigeria for violating local data protection and privacy laws. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) found that Meta’s policies prevented Nigerian users from withholding consent to the collection, use, and distribution of personal data. This discriminatory practice led to the fine, which Meta has been instructed to pay within 60 days.
The investigation, conducted over 38 months in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), began in 2021 after WhatsApp updated its privacy policy. The FCCPC accused Meta of engaging in abusive and invasive practices against data subjects in Nigeria over a protracted period of time. Despite a proposed remedy package from Meta in April, the concerns raised by the authorities were not adequately addressed.
This is not the first time Meta has faced scrutiny for data breaches. Recently, Türkiye fined the company, and the European Union has accused it of violating antitrust regulations. With over 51 million WhatsApp users in Nigeria, the impact of Meta’s privacy policy changes is significant in the country.
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