Meta’s Exit Threat From Nigeria

Meta’s Exit Threat From Nigeria

WhatsApp's warning of a potential exit from Nigeria in response to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's (FCCPC) recent directive seems more like a strategic attempt to provoke a backlash and compel the Commission to reconsider its decision.

 The FCCPC’s investigation into Meta Platforms and WhatsApp (collectively known as "Meta Parties") was based on accusations of repeated violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).

The Commission’s findings outlined several violations by Meta Parties, including denying Nigerians the right to control their personal data, transferring and sharing Nigerian user data without consent, discriminatory practices against Nigerian users, and exploiting their dominant market position by imposing unfair privacy policies. As a result of these violations, the Nigerian government has insisted that Meta must pay the $290 million fine imposed on them for their infractions.