The Federal Government has fined Meta Platforms $220 million (about N330 billion) after investigations showed data-sharing on its Facebook and WhatsApp platforms violated local consumer, data protection and privacy laws.
Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, (FCCPC), said this on Friday.
He said Meta appropriated the data of Nigerian users on its platforms without their consent, abused its market dominance, and meted out discriminatory and disparate treatment on Nigerians, compared with other jurisdictions with similar regulations.
Meta did not immediately comment, but the FCCPC said in a statement that the company had provided some documents and have retained counsels who have met and engaged with the agency.
FCCPC chief, Abdullahi said the investigations were jointly held with Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission and spanned over 38 months.
The investigations found Meta policies don’t allow users the option or opportunity to self-determine or withhold consent to the gathering, use, and sharing of personal data, Abdullahi said.