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Business Mayor
18-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Nigerians seek homegrown social media platforms amid Meta's possible exit
Following Meta Platforms Inc.'s warning that it may cease operations in Nigeria, social media users across the country have called for the development of indigenous networking platforms. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, threatened to shut down its Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria after a tribunal upheld a \$220 million fine against the company last year. In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, users said establishing homegrown platforms would make regulation and data protection easier to enforce in the country. Mr. Moses Atuegwu, a WhatsApp user, described Meta's exit threat as 'uncalled for' considering the large Nigerian user base. He added, 'We cannot continue to be controlled by these foreign platforms. We should have an alternative that is indigenous based.' Ms. Pearl Adekunle, a user of WhatsApp and Instagram, said homegrown platforms would allow Nigeria to better scrutinise online content and boost local technology and the economy. She noted, 'China and Russia have their own indigenous social media platforms, and this enhances the data protection policy of their governments. Nothing stops Nigeria from adopting the same to promote and advance indigenous technologies.' Esther Indiana-Obong, a Facebook subscriber, said that creating indigenous platforms would foster competition and innovation in Nigeria's IT sector while reducing dependence on foreign brands. Alhaji Aminu Zakari, also a social media user, pointed out that a local platform would help the government regulate social media more effectively. Meta's threat followed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal's decision in July 2024 to uphold a $220 million fine against Meta Platforms Inc. and WhatsApp LLC for violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). The tribunal also ordered Meta to pay $35,000 as investigation costs. According to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Meta's violations include denying Nigerians control over their personal data, transferring user data without authorisation, discriminating against Nigerian users compared to those in other regions, and abusing its dominant market position through unfair privacy policies. The FCCPC described Meta's exit threat as a calculated move to induce public pressure on the commission.
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Weda Meta comot or not, dem gatz realise wetin dem do - Nigeria goment tell operators of WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram
Di Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission don draw ear give Meta say dia threat no hold water becos dem go still owe gbese. Dem tok dis one for statement wey di FCCPC director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu bring come outside on Saturday. "WhatsApp claim say dem fit dey forced to comot Nigeria sake if di FCCPC recent order be like na calculated move wey dem do to cause negative public reaction wey dem tink fit make FCCPC to reconsider dia decision", Ijagwu tok. E add say, "to threaten to comot Nigeria no mean say Meta no owe di liabilities wey be say di result of judicial process put for dia head". According to wetin di company tok for court papers, dem say, "di applicant fit dey forced to shutdown Facebook and Instagram for Nigeria so dem go fit reduce di risk wey go come if dem no comply" but dem no tok anytin about WhatsApp for dat statement. Di FCCPC drop lowdown of wetin dem bin dey accuse Meta for. Dem claim say Meta violate di Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and di Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). Di accuse be say Meta "deny Nigerians di right to control dia personal data, dey share Nigerian user data witout permission, discriminate against Nigeria users compared to users for oda places and abuse dia dominant market position by say dem force unfair practices". Dem add say, di Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal na im stamp di FCCPC final order say dem want make "Meta Parties to do wetin Nigeria law tok, stop to dey exploit Nigeria consumers, change dia practices to meet Nigerian standards and respect consumer rights, wey go look like wetin be international best practices." Wetin be di fines wey FCCPC dey ask for For di weekend statement, FCCPC claim say " Meta bin dey fined for similar breaches for Texas for $1.5bn and recently dem ask dem to pay $1.3bn say dem violate di EU Data Privacy Rule. Dem aslo face penalties for similar breaches for India, South Korea, France and Australia". All dis na to torchlight di fact say, na just Nigeria Meta det blackmail say dem wan comot. Wetin start dis whole kasala against Meta? Na for 2020, dis mata start as di FCCPC begin 38 month collabo investigation wit di Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC). Di investigation torchlight di conduct, privacy practices, and consumer data policies of Meta Platforms and WhatsApp. For 19 July, 2024, di FCCPC come issue final offer wey sama $220 million administrative penalty ontop Meta head say dem bin dey run discriminatory and exploitative practices against Nigerian consumers. As Meta no come like di Order, Meta and WhatsApp carry di FCCPC go di Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal as dem bin make di final arguments by 28 January, 2025 but no be till 25 April, 2025, na im di Tribunal come drop dia ruling. Di Tribunal release dia judgement on di case say mostly on di side of di commission for di seven issues Meta bin bring bifor di court. Dem even add on top di $220m administrative penalty say Meta Platforms Incorporated and WhatsApp LLC go pay $35,000 to di FCCPC as cost of di investigation. Di three member panel of di Tribunal wey Honorable Thomas Okosun lead, while dem judge most di case in di Commission favour bin set aside Order 7 of di Commission Final Order say e no get legal basis.
