Nigerian govt justifies $220m fine on Meta platforms

By Jessica Dogo

The Nigerian government has explained why it imposed imposed a $220 million fine on Meta, the U.S,-based company owner of social of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads social media platforms.

Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) recently imposed a $220 million fine on Meta.

While defending the fine on Friday, National Commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, said it was to ensure that tech giant operated within the within the ambits of the nation’s laws.

Olatunji spoke at Training for DevsInGovernment which had as its them: “Innovating with Privacy: Building Trust in Government Digital Services.”

“We are not necessarily being punitive. However, any institution that fails to cooperate or comply with our laws will be sanctioned,” Olatunji said.

The initiative is meant to equip workers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government with digital knowledge and skills.

Olatunji said the probe of Meta Platforms Inc. required multi-agency approach to ensure a thorough and detailed investigation with appropriate mechanisms to resolve the issues.

“We are concerned about the ways and manners in which data of citizens are collected and managed in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.

“In so doing, we also consider the economic values for the citizens and the country and we want the global best standards and practices to be entrenched here.

“We are not necessarily being punitive. However, any institution that fails to cooperate or comply with our laws will be sanctioned,” he said.

He said given the sensitive nature of data in governance and businesses, the federal government would do everything legally necessary to sanitise the area.

“The future of government is digital, but the success of digital governance will depend on one thing above all. Trust and privacy is the foundation of that trust.

“Deploying trusted digital services is not a task for government alone it requires all of us across public and private sectors, civil societies and citizens working together.

“Together we can build a citizen-centric, innovative digital nation that others will look to as a model of trust and progress,” he said.

(NAN)