FCCPC Dismisses WhatsApp’s Threat to Exit Nigeria Amid Data Privacy Violations

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed WhatsApp’s claim that it may withdraw from Nigeria due to a recent order as a strategic attempt to sway public opinion. The FCCPC stated that it investigated Meta Platforms, which owns WhatsApp, for violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).

The investigation reportedly revealed multiple infringements by Meta, including unauthorised data transfers, discriminatory practices against Nigerian users, and abuse of market dominance. The FCCPC found that WhatsApp denied Nigerians control over their data and imposed unfair privacy policies. As a result, the Commission issued a final order requiring Meta to comply with Nigerian laws and imposed a monetary penalty of $220 million.

The final order requires Meta Parties to comply with Nigerian law, stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, change their practices to meet Nigerian standards and respect consumer rights. To deter future violations and ensure accountability for the alleged infringements, the FCCPC also imposed a monetary penalty of $220 million, the agency said in an X post.

The FCCPC added that its actions are aimed at protecting consumer rights and ensuring data privacy. They noted that similar measures have been implemented in other countries without forcing companies to exit the market.

As earlier reported, a WhatsApp spokesperson had argued that complying with the FCCPC’s order would be technically impossible, claiming it misrepresents how the platform operates. The spokesperson stressed that WhatsApp relies on limited data to function and warned that the order could disrupt services in Nigeria and globally.

The FCCPC’s investigation, conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, concluded that WhatsApp’s practices violated Nigerian laws by sharing user data without explicit consent and mistreating Nigerian users compared to those in other regions. The Commission reiterated that Meta must adapt its practices to align with Nigerian standards.

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