National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Funmi Ojo, OYO |
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has responded to reports that WhatsApp might leave the Nigerian market due to a $220 million fine for alleged data privacy violations.
In a statement, the FCCPC characterised the fine as a step towards a fairer digital market in Nigeria.
The commission suggested that WhatsApp’s indication of potentially exiting Nigeria could be a strategic maneuver to sway public opinion and pressure the commission to reconsider its decision.
According to the FCCPC, their investigation revealed that Meta Platforms, WhatsApp’s parent company, was guilty of denying Nigerians control over their personal data, transferring and sharing user data without authorisation, discriminating against Nigerian users, and abusing its dominant market position.
The commission emphasised that their actions are motivated by legitimate concerns about consumer protection and data privacy.
They noted that similar measures have been taken in other countries without prompting companies to exit those markets.
WhatsApp and Meta Platforms have appealed the fine, arguing that the FCCPC denied them a fair hearing by imposing a substantial penalty without providing a clear basis for its calculation and an opportunity to respond.
