The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) of Nigeria has imposed a whopping $220 million fine on Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. This penalty alludes to claims of discriminatory acts and breach of privacy against Nigerian users.
Meta has been involved in some extremely worrisome data practices as presented in its 38-month investigation by FCCPC together with Nigeria’s NDPC. These practices include:
Unapproved Data Collection: The investigation claimed that Meta gathered personal information on Nigerian users without their explicit consent.
Unequal Treatment: The FCCPC accused Meta of discriminating against Nigerian users when compared to users in other countries. Its alleged discrimination could mean different data practices or terms of service.
Forced Privacy Policies: According to reports, it was discovered that Meta compelled users into accepting unfair privacy policies which exploited them, thus taking control over their data.
Unauthorized Data Sharing: The FCCPC flagged concerns about possible unauthorized transfer and sharing of Nigerian user data by Meta, possibly contravening Nigerian law.
In order to comply with Nigerian data protection laws, the FCCPC directed that certain changes be made by Meta.
This implies that Meta must obtain unambiguous permission from users concerning their information before storing it and halt any discriminatory actions against Nigerian users. Consequently, the FCCPC has ordered Meta to cease its exploitative practices.
The FCCPC has slapped a hefty penalty on this firm in order to demonstrate its dedication to safeguarding Nigerians’ private lives as well as enhancing equitable commerce within the cyberspace. The action is meant to make Meta learn an important lesson about respecting user privacy and complying with national laws.
Furthermore, it indicates that data privacy is becoming a global concern and tech companies are facing increased scrutiny over their collection of data.
