The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has spoken about the threat by messaging service WhatsApp to exit Nigeria.

WhatsApp had earlier announced that it could exit Nigeria over FCCPC demands and a $220 million fine.

“We want to be really clear that technically, based on the order, it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria or globally,” it said.

Reacting via a statement on X on Thursday, August 1, 2024, the FCCPC described WhatsApp’s claim that it may be forced to exit Nigeria over the commission’s recent order as an attempt to influence “public opinion and potentially pressure the FCCPC to reconsider its decision”.

The FCCPC noted that it investigated WhatsApp and other Meta Platforms for allegedly violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).

Meta speaks on $220m fine by FCCPC

It said: “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 final order requires Meta Parties to take steps to comply with Nigerian law, stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, change their practices to meet Nigerian standards and respect consumer rights.

“To deter future violations and ensure accountability for the alleged infringements the FCCPC also imposed a monetary penalty of $220 million.

“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 Star