Meta To Appeal $220 Million Fine Issued By FCCPC Over WhatsApp

Meta To Appeal $220 Million Fine Issued By FCCPC Over WhatsApp

Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has announced its intention to appeal the $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for alleged violations of Nigeria’s data privacy laws. In a statement released to the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Lagos, WhatsApp expressed disagreement with the FCCPC’s decision and the accompanying penalty…….. CONTINUE READING 

“We disagree with the decision today as well as the fine and Meta will be appealing the decision,” the statement read.

The FCCPC’s action follows its assertion that Meta denied Nigerian users control over their data and shared user data without consent, allegedly abusing its market dominance. According to the FCCPC, the monetary penalty was imposed in accordance with the FCCPA 2018 and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations 2020.

The investigation, initiated in May 2021, highlighted Meta’s alleged breaches of the FCCPA 2018 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019, predating the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. Throughout the investigation, Meta cooperated by providing requested documents and engaging with investigators and analysts from the commission and the NDPC.

Meta Platforms, Inc., headquartered in Menlo Park, California, operates several prominent social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.