Prominent social media companies, Meta and WhatApp, have been ordered to pay a $220 million penalty and $35,000 fine to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) within 60 days over their data discrimination practices in Nigeria.
This order was handed down by a Tribunal set up by the Competition and Consumer Protection on Friday in a suit brought before it by the FCCPC. The tribunal also dismissed the appeal of WhatsApp and Meta regarding the $220 million penalty imposed by the FCCPC following an investigation into alleged violations of data protection and consumer rights by Meta and WhatsApp.
WhatsApp and Meta Platforms Incorporated had appealed to the tribunal, arguing that the FCCPC’s $220 million penalty should be overturned, citing 22 reasons, including alleged vague directives, unjustifiable data-sharing orders, and procedural errors.
