The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has responded firmly to WhatsApp’s suggestion it may exit the country, characterising the threat as a “calculated move” designed to generate public pressure against recent regulatory actions.
In a statement released Saturday, FCCPC declared that “threatening to leave Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liabilities for the outcome of a judicial process.”
The dispute follows an FCCPC investigation into Meta Platforms and WhatsApp for alleged violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). The Commission found multiple infractions, including unauthorised transfer of Nigerian user data, discrimination against Nigerian users compared to those in other countries, and abuse of market dominance through forced privacy policies.
According to FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal recently affirmed an order requiring Meta to comply with Nigerian law, cease exploiting Nigerian consumers, and align their practices with national standards and international best practices.
The statement highlighted that Meta has faced similar penalties in multiple jurisdictions, including a $1.5 billion fine in Texas and a recent $1.3 billion penalty for violating EU data privacy rules. The regulator noted that Meta complied with regulatory actions in India, South Korea, France, and Australia without threatening market withdrawal.
“But Meta never resorted to the blackmail of threatening to exit those countries. They obeyed,” the statement pointed out.
The FCCPC affirmed its commitment to consumer protection and data privacy in pursuit of “a fairer digital market in Nigeria.”
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