Nigeria fines Meta $220 million for breaching data law

Nigerian authorities fined Meta, the mother company of Facebook, whatsApp and Instagram, 220 million dollars for breaching consumer and data protection laws as well as abusing its position as market leader.

The fine was announced following a 34-month investigation by Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

Meta is also accused of sharing Nigerians’ personal data without authorization and denying Nigerians the right to determine how their data is used

FCCPC chief executive officer Adamu Abdullahi said investigations carried out by the commission showed that Meta had engaged in “invasive practices against data subjects in Nigeria.”

Abdullahi said the tech giant must “comply with the prevailing law and cease the exploitation of Nigerian consumers and their market abuse.”

The commission ordered the firm to “desist from future similar or other conduct/practices that do not meet nationally applicable standards.”