By Abubakar Yunusa Ojima-Ojo
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has accused Meta Platforms, the parent company of WhatsApp, of resorting to “calculated blackmail” and “market bullying” after the tech giant threatened to exit the Nigerian market amid regulatory scrutiny.
In a strongly worded statement on Friday, the FCCPC condemned Meta’s threats, asserting that “quitting Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liability.”
The accusations follow a comprehensive investigation by the Commission, which uncovered “multiple and repeated infringements” of Nigerian laws by Meta and WhatsApp, including violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The FCCPC alleged that Meta “denied Nigerians the right to control their personal data,” engaged in unauthorised data transfers, discriminated against Nigerian users compared to those in other jurisdictions, and abused its dominant market position by imposing unfair privacy policies.
Drawing parallels with Meta’s global regulatory challenges, the FCCPC highlighted that the company has faced significant fines abroad, including a $1.5 billion penalty in Texas and a $1.3 billion fine for violating EU data privacy rules.
“In India, South Korea, France, and Australia, Meta faced penalties — but never resorted to blackmail or exit threats. They obeyed,” the Commission noted.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has upheld the FCCPC’s findings, issuing a final order mandating Meta to “comply with Nigerian law, stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, change their practices to meet Nigerian standards, and respect consumer rights.”
Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, accused Meta of attempting to manipulate public sentiment with its exit threats.
“WhatsApp’s claim that it may be forced to exit Nigeria appears to be a calculated move aimed at inducing negative public reaction and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision,” Ijagwu said.
The FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing consumer protection and data privacy laws, stating, “We remain committed to ensuring a fairer digital market in Nigeria.”
