Meta, the parent body of WhatsApp said it is going to appeal the $220 million fine.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) had imposed the fine on the social media for allegedly violating Nigeria’s data privacy laws.
Whatsapp, in a statement said: “We disagree with the decision today as well as the fine and Meta will be appealing the decision
“In 2021, we went to users globally to explain how talking to businesses among other things would work and while there was a lot of confusion then, it has actually proven quite popular.”
The FCCPC had accused meta of denying Nigerian users control over their data, while at the same time sharing users data without coconse and also abused its market dominance.
The FCCPC announced that it initiated its investigation in May 2021, based on evidence suggesting that Meta, through its platforms, had breached the provisions of the FCCPA 2018 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019.
It stated that these regulations were in effect prior to the enactment and implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
FCCPC therefore imposed a monetary penalty of two hundred and twenty million U.S. Dollars only, on Meta.
The penalty is in accordance with the FCCPA 2018, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations 2020.
