The Nigerian Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has handed Meta a fine of $220 million. This is happening barely three years after the government agency began investigating the tech giant over claims of not allowing users of WhatsApp the option of consenting to the collection and use of personal data.
The final order also imposes a monetary penalty of Two Hundred and Twenty Million United States Dollars only ($220,000,000) at the prevailing exchange rate when applicable. This is in accordance with the FCCPC 2018 and 2020 (Administrative Penalties) Regulations.
FCCPC
However, Meta denies all claims by the FCCPC, disagrees with the Judgement and fine, and plans to appeal.
In 2021, we went to users globally to explain how talking to businesses, among other things, would work, and while there was a lot of confusion then, it’s actually proven quite popular. We disagree with the decision today as well as the fine, and we are appealing the decision.
WhatsApp Spokesperson
Reports from the Consumer Protection Commission and the National Data Protection Commission find Meta engaging in practices that constitute of multiple, and continuous infringements particularly, abusive and invasive practices against Nigerian data subjects.