The Federal Government of Nigeria and Meta are currently embroiled in a major feud as tensions soar over a $290 million data privacy fine imposed on the tech giant.
The dispute began when the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) accused Meta of violating the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) through unauthorized data transfer.
This dispute also follows a global trend of heightened regulatory scrutiny on tech giants. The European Union recently fined Meta €200 million for breaching digital competition rules.
On July 19, 2024, the FCCPC imposed a fine of $220 million on Meta, also the parent company of WhatsApp, for multiple data privacy violations.
The Federal government agency said the fine came after a 38-month joint investigation with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) into the privacy practices and consumer data policies of WhatsApp and Meta.
However, Meta kicked against the decision, challenging it at the court.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, fiercely contested the penalties, labelling them as “unrealistic demands.”
Ruling on the matter on April 25, the competition and consumer protection tribunal upheld the $220 million data privacy fine imposed on Meta by the FCCPC.
Reacting, the tech giant warned it may shut down operations in Nigeria after the court upheld the $220m data privacy fine imposed in July 2024.
“The applicant may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures,” Meta said.
In a swift counter-reaction, the FCCPC described Meta’s statement as a tactic to incite public reaction against regulatory action.
The FCCPC stated that Meta’s potential departure will not exempt it from paying the $220 data privacy fine.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the FCCPC said Meta’s threat appears to be an attempt to trigger public backlash and pressure the commission into reversing its stance.
“Threatening to leave Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liabilities for the outcome of a judicial process. For the avoidance of doubt, the FCCPC remains committed in its pursuit of consumer protection and data privacy towards ensuring a fairer digital market in Nigeria,” the FCCPC said.
