The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has responded strongly to Meta Platforms Inc., dismissing its threat to withdraw Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria as irrelevant to its legal obligations. Meta previously indicated that it might shut down operations in Nigeria to avoid the consequences of enforcement actions.
This statement followed a legal judgment in which Meta failed to overturn a fine of ₦220 million imposed by the FCCPC for breaching data protection and consumer rights laws. The commission described Meta’s reaction as an attempt to sway public opinion and undermine its decision. FCCPC emphasized that leaving Nigeria would not exempt Meta from the liabilities determined through the due judicial process.
According to the FCCPC, the violations included unauthorized sharing of Nigerians’ data, discriminatory practices against Nigerian users compared to others globally, and imposing unfair privacy terms facilitated by its dominant market position. The commission highlighted that such behavior disregards users’ rights and breaches Nigerian laws.
Notably, Meta has faced similar allegations and penalties internationally. The company previously paid $1.5 billion for data violations in Texas and was recently fined $1.3 billion by EU authorities for breaches of privacy standards. Countries like India, South Korea, France, and Australia have also penalized Meta for similar offenses, where the company complied without resorting to threats to exit.
The FCCPC reinforced that Meta’s accountability remains unchanged, regardless of its operational decisions in Nigeria.
