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WhatsApp Disputes Nigerian Ruling on $220M Fine, Plans Immediate Appeal

Photo credit :lifehijacker

By Adama Abubakar

WhatsApp has announced its intention to appeal a recent ruling by Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, which upheld a $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for alleged violations of data protection and consumer rights laws.

In a statement released on Saturday, WhatsApp expressed strong disagreement with the tribunal’s decision, stating: “We are urgently applying to stay the order and appeal today’s decision to avoid any impact to users.”

The FCCPC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, conducted a 38-month investigation into Meta Platforms Inc.—the parent company of WhatsApp and Facebook. The investigation concluded that Meta engaged in discriminatory and exploitative data practices against Nigerian users, including unauthorized data sharing and abuse of market dominance.

The tribunal not only upheld the $220 million fine but also ordered Meta and WhatsApp to pay an additional $35,000 to cover the costs of the FCCPC’s investigation.

WhatsApp contends that the FCCPC’s order contains multiple inaccuracies and misrepresents how the platform operates. The company emphasized that it relies on limited data to run its service and maintain user safety, arguing that it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria—or globally—without the infrastructure of its parent company.

This development underscores the growing scrutiny of global tech companies’ data practices and the enforcement of consumer protection laws in Nigeria.

Comments

  1. MeeshmaApril 26, 2025 at 2:01 PM

    Let the government do something about it

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousApril 26, 2025 at 2:05 PM

    All these imposition of fines hmmm

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApril 26, 2025 at 3:37 PM

    So Nigerians usage of WhatsApp is different . It is well with us

    ReplyDelete

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