In a bold move, WhatsApp, a division of Meta, has announced its intention to contest a staggering $220 million fine imposed by Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for alleged data privacy violations.
The fine, levied following a thorough investigation, has sparked a heated debate about data protection and user privacy in the digital age.
According to Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, acting Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the FCCPC, the investigation, conducted jointly with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) between May 2021 and December 2023, uncovered “multiple and repeated, as well as continuing infringements” of Nigeria’s data privacy legislation.
The FCCPC alleged that WhatsApp’s data management policies were opaque, raising concerns about the privacy and security of user information.
“The totality of the investigation has concluded that Meta Parties over a protracted period of time have engaged in conduct that constitutes multiple and repeated, as well as continuing infringements of the FCCPA and NDPR,” Dr. Abdullahi stated.
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“This includes abusive, and invasive practices against data subjects/consumers in Nigeria, such as appropriating personal data or information without consent, discriminatory practices against Nigerian data subjects/consumers or disparate treatment of consumers/data subjects compared with other jurisdictions with similar regulatory frameworks.”
WhatsApp has vehemently disputed the FCCPC’s findings, arguing that its data practices respect user privacy and comply with international standards.
“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 proven quite popular,” the company stated.
WhatsApp insists that its services are secure, and that user data is protected through end-to-end encryption.
As the company prepares to appeal the decision, the stakes are high.
This development is part of a broader trend of regulators worldwide imposing stricter data privacy regulations on major technology corporations.
WhatsApp’s appeal will likely be closely watched, given the company’s previous encounters with data privacy criticism, including a €225 million penalty from the Irish Data Protection Commission for similar breaches.
