Nigeria Tribunal Upholds $220M Fine Against Meta, WhatsApp for Data Discrimination

Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has upheld a $220 million fine and an additional $35,000 in investigative costs against Meta Platforms Incorporated and WhatsApp for discriminatory and exploitative data practices affecting Nigerian consumers. The tribunal dismissed Meta and WhatsApp’s appeal, finding that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) acted within its legal mandate following a 38-month investigation that revealed unauthorized data sharing, lack of user consent mechanisms, and practices treating Nigerian users less favorably than those in other regions. Meta and WhatsApp argued that the FCCPC’s directives were vague, technically unfeasible, and not supported by Nigerian law, and claimed they were denied fair hearing. However, the tribunal found these arguments unpersuasive, affirming that the FCCPC provided ample opportunity for defense and that its actions were corrective, not punitive. The companies are required to pay the penalties within 60 days and immediately cease the unlawful practices identified. This decision underscores Nigeria’s commitment to enforcing consumer protection and data privacy standards for digital platforms operating in the country.