In a significant ruling, Nigeria’s tribunal has upheld a $220 million fine against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, over data privacy violations. The decision intensifies the global regulatory challenges facing the tech giant. The fine stems from consumer data violations involving WhatsApp and Facebook, which the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission uncovered during their investigation.
Meta, which owns Facebook and WhatsApp, lost its appeal against the fine, originally imposed in 2023 by Nigeria’s consumer protection authority. This fine was linked to Meta’s unlawful practices, including the unauthorized sharing of Nigerians’ data, discriminatory data handling, and misuse of its market dominance. Furthermore, according to Ondaje Ijagwu, a spokesperson for the FCCPC, the tribunal confirmed that Meta and WhatsApp were guilty of several breaches of Nigeria’s consumer protection and data privacy laws.
Meta has denied the allegations and expressed disagreement with the ruling, stating that it did not engage in any wrongful activities. In response, a WhatsApp spokesperson reiterated the company’s stance, expressing dissatisfaction with the imposed penalties. Despite its objections, Meta must comply with the ruling and pay the fine by the end of June, as stated by local media outlets.
This ruling is just one of many regulatory hurdles facing Meta. The company is also contending with a separate €200 million fine from the European Union for its controversial “pay or consent” data model on Facebook and Instagram, which regulators claim violates EU data privacy regulations.
Nigeria, one of Meta’s largest markets in Africa, continues to have significant internet usage, with over 164 million internet subscriptions as of March 2025. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp remain dominant platforms for online communication in the country.
