Meta

Nigeria’s consumer protection regulator, the <a href="http://www.fccpc.gov.ng/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission</a>, FCCPC has dismissed a threat by Meta’s instant messaging app, WhatsApp that it would leave the country. This was revealed in a statement made by the commission’s handle on X, formerly Twitter. 
Recall that WhatsApp had threatened to leave the country following a steep $200 million fine imposed on it by the FCCPC. This was after the instant messaging platform was investigated and found guilty of breaching both consumer protection and data protection laws.&nbsp; 
According to the commission’s statement, WhatsApp’s threat to&nbsp;leave the country is only a ploy to garner public sympathy for its side. 
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> 
 WhatsApp’s claim that it may be forced to exit Nigeria due to FCCPC’s recent order appears to be a strategic move aimed at influencing public opinion and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision.&nbsp; 
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<h4 id="whatsapp-and-metas-troubles-with-the-fccpc" class="wp-block-heading">WhatsApp and Meta’s troubles with the FCCPC</h4> 
Recall that a week ago, the FCCPC imposed an <a href="https://technext24.com/2024/07/19/fccpc-fines-meta-220m-for-data-violation/" data-type="post" data-id="233789">astounding $200 million fine on Meta</a> for the failure of its instant messaging platform, WhatsApp to comply with data privacy standards. Because of this, WhatsApp reportedly said it was considering withdrawing certain services from Nigeria due to the commission’s stringent demands. 
“We want to be really clear that technically, based on the order, it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria or globally,” a spokesperson for WhatsApp told TechCabal via email.&nbsp; 
The spokesperson also said the FCCPC’s order contains multiple inaccuracies and misrepresents how WhatsApp works. They said WhatsApp relies on limited data to run its service and keep users safe, and it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria or globally without Meta’s infrastructure. The platform is therefore urgently appealing the order to avoid any impact on users. 
However, the FCCPC believes it is all a ploy to sway public opinion to its side rather than face the penalty for its wrongdoings. In its latest statement, the FCCPC said it investigated Meta Platforms and WhatsApp for allegedly violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), and found them guilty.&nbsp; 
“The Commission found that Meta Parties engaged in multiple and repeated infringements of the FCCPA and the NDPR. These infringements included denying Nigerians the right to control their personal data, transferring and sharing Nigerian user data without authorisation, discriminating against Nigerian users compared to users in other jurisdictions and abusing their dominant market position by forcing unfair privacy policies,” the commission said. 
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It also noted that the final order requires Meta to take steps to comply with Nigerian law, by putting a stop to the exploitation of Nigerian consumers, changing their practices to meet Nigerian standards and respecting consumer rights. 
The FCCPC said it also imposed a monetary penalty of $220 million to deter future violations and ensure accountability for the alleged infringements. 
“The FCCPC’s actions are based on legitimate concerns about consumer protection and data privacy and the order is a positive step towards a fairer digital market in Nigeria. Similar measures are taken in other jurisdictions without forcing companies to leave the market. The case of Nigeria will not be different,” the commission finished.
The post <a href="https://technext24.com/2024/08/02/whatsapp-public-opinion-nigeria-fccpc/">FCCPC says WhatsApp is trying to influence public opinion with ‘leaving Nigeria’ threats amid $200m fine</a> first appeared on <a href="https://technext24.com">Technext</a>.

FCCPC says WhatsApp is trying to influence public opinion with ‘leaving Nigeria’ threats amid $200m fine

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