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Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Will Meta lawsuits shape Africa's data privacy laws?
Representative image US tech giant Meta — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — vowed earlier this month to fight huge fines issued by authorities in Nigeria for regulatory breaches. It comes after a Nigerian tribunal in April rejected Meta's appeal against a $220-million (€202-million) fine imposed last year by the country's consumer protection agency, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). FCCPC Chief Executive Officer Adamu Abdullahi said investigations carried out in conjunction with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) between May 2021 and December 2023 revealed "invasive practices against data subjects/consumers in Nigeria." The FCCPC accused Meta of discriminatory practices, abuse of market dominance, sharing Nigerians' personal data without authorization and denying Nigerians the right to determine how their data is used. A Meta spokesperson told the AFP news agency that they "disagree with the NDPC's decision, which fails to take into account the wide range of settings and tools that allow everyone using Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria to control how their information is used." "We're committed to protecting user privacy and have appealed the decision," the spokesperson added. Content moderation sparks legal action Meanwhile, according to British daily The Guardian, lawyers are preparing for a lawsuit against Majorel, a company owned by tech contractor Teleperformance, which is paid by Meta for content moderation. Content moderators working for Majorel in Ghana's capital, Accra, told The Guardian that they have suffered from depression, anxiety, insomnia and substance abuse. They believe this is a direct result of their work as content moderators. They also claim that the psychological support offered to help process disturbing social media content was inadequate. Teleperformance has reportedly denied these accusations. According to The Guardian, the company employs its own mental health professionals, who are registered with the local supervisory authority. DW asked Majorel for comment but received no reply. In September 2024, a court in Kenya ruled that Meta can be sued, leading to further court cases and mediation proceedings. Calls for stronger regulatory framework Africa is a growing market for tech, with more companies setting up operations on the continent than elsewhere across the world. Beyond growth and expansion opportunities for global tech firms, the African continent also provides cheap labor and access to millions of multicultural and diverse users. However, unlike in Europe, holding tech companies accountable in Africa is complicated by lax and weak enforcement of data protection laws, most of which are similar to the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. "It's a shifting landscape," said Akintunde Babatunde, executive director of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), a think tank. He noted that "whatever happens to those lawsuits will set precedent for what would potentially be a playbook for a lot of other countries on the continent." Babatunde attributed this to the evolution of tech companies over the years. "Tech platforms are no longer neutral platforms. They now serve as digital infrastructure for activism, social movements, the public sphere and even the digital economy," he said, calling for regulatory frameworks for tech platforms in Africa, as with other basic amenities. "We should think of them the same way we think of roads or airports as essential utilities that are central to everyday life. And just as airports are regulated locally and globally by aviation bodies, there's a need for a similar framework for tech platforms [on the continent]." Gbenga Sesan, executive director of Paradigm Initiative, an NGO working to connect under-served young Africans with digital opportunities, told DW that the decisions of these African countries go beyond exerting digital sovereignty, aiming to boost regulatory revenues. Some African countries are already working toward securing the value chains by strengthening their data laws. For instance, Nigeria's data protection agency has said it generated more than $1.2 million in regulatory revenue over the last two years. "Many countries in Africa have seen what happened in India, Europe and other regions, and are thinking that 'these companies are collecting our data and not paying anything for it'. That is also a significant factor behind the fines. But these fines are not an end in themselves," the digital rights expert said. "It's important that every company, including Meta and others, knows that there'd be consequences if data privacy laws aren't adhered to." What happens next? While it seems that Africa is gradually taking matters into its own hands, there are still palpable fears about governments on the continent using digital regulation and privacy laws to suppress dissenting voices under the guise of tech accountability. In recent years, young Africans have used platforms owned by global tech companies, such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), to mobilize and hold their governments accountable. The "Gen Z protests" in Kenya began with a hashtag on X before morphing into a movement that eventually forced authorities to back down on a controversial finance bill. In 2021, the Nigerian government suspended X after the platform deleted a post from former President Muhammadu Buhari threatening to punish regional secessionists. While he described these repressive actions as the "real problem," 'Gbenga noted that some African governments attack these platforms "because they are used by the opposition," and as such, "there's the tendency for governments to use that excuse to shut down and restrict platforms that they know citizens use significantly to drive conversations around dissenting voices."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Will Meta lawsuits shape Africa's data privacy laws?
US tech giant Meta — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — vowed earlier this month to fight huge fines issued by authorities in Nigeria for regulatory breaches. It comes after a Nigerian tribunal in April rejected Meta's appeal against a $220 million (€202 million) fine imposed last year by the country's consumer protection agency, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). FCCPC chief executive officer Adamu Abdullahi said investigations carried out in conjunction with the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) between May 2021 and December 2023 revealed "invasive practices against data subjects/consumers in Nigeria." The FCCPC accused Meta of discriminatory practices, abuse of market dominance, sharing Nigerians' personal data without authorization and denying Nigerians the right to determine how their data is used. A Meta spokesperson told the AFP news agency that they "disagree with the NDPC's decision, which fails to take into account the wide range of settings and tools that allow everyone using Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria to control how their information is used." "We're committed to protecting user privacy and have appealed the decision." Meanwhile, according to British daily The Guardian, lawyers are preparing for a lawsuit against Majorel, a company owned by tech contractor Teleperformance, which is paid by Meta for content moderation. Content moderators working for Majorel in Ghana's capital, Accra, told The Guardian that they have suffered from depression, anxiety, insomnia, and substance abuse. They believe this is a direct result of their work as content moderators. They also claim that the psychological support offered to help process disturbing social media content was inadequate. Teleperformance reportedly denies these accusations. According to The Guardian, the company employs its own mental health professionals, who are registered with the local supervisory authority. DW asked Majorel for comment but received no reply. In September 2024, a court in Kenya ruled that Meta can be sued, leading to further court cases and mediation proceedings. Africa is a growing market for tech, with more companies setting up operations on the continent than elsewhere across the world. Beyond growth and expansion opportunities for global tech firms, the African continent also provides cheap labor and access to millions of multicultural and diverse users. However, unlike in Europe, holding tech companies accountable in Africa is complicated by lax and weak enforcement of data protection laws, most of which are similar to the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). "It's a shifting landscape," said Akintunde Babatunde, executive director of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), a think tank. He noted that "whatever happens to those lawsuits will set precedent for what would potentially be a playbook for a lot of other countries on the continent." Babatunde attributes this to the evolution of tech companies over the years. "Tech platforms are no longer neutral platforms. They now serve as digital infrastructure for activism, social movements, the public sphere and even the digital economy," he said, calling for regulatory frameworks for tech platforms in Africa, as with other basic amenities. "We should think of them the same way we think of roads or airports as essential utilities that are central to everyday life. And just as airports are regulated locally and globally by aviation bodies, there's a need for a similar framework for tech platforms [on the continent]." 'Gbenga Sesan, executive director of Paradigm Initiative, an NGO working to connect under-served young Africans with digital opportunities, told DW that the decisions of these African countries goes beyond exerting digital sovereignty, aiming to boost regulatory revenues. Some African countries are already working towards securing the value chains by strengthening their data laws. For instance, Nigeria's data protection agency says it generated over $1.2 million in regulatory revenue within the last two years. "Many countries in Africa have seen what happened in India, Europe and other regions, and are thinking that 'these companies are collecting our data and not paying anything for it'. That is also a significant factor behind the fines. But these fines are not an end in themselves," the digital rights expert said. "It's important that every company, including Meta and others, knows that there'd be consequences if data privacy laws aren't adhered to." While it seems that Africa is gradually taking matters into its own hands, there are still palpable fears about governments on the continent using digital regulation and privacy laws to suppress dissenting voices under the guise of tech accountability. In recent years, young Africans have used platforms owned by global tech companies, such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), to mobilize and hold their governments accountable. The 'Gen Z protests' in Kenya began with a hashtag on X before morphing into a movement that eventually forced authorities to back down on a controversial finance bill. In 2021, the Nigerian government suspended X after the platform deleted a post from former President Muhammadu Buhari threatening to punish regional secessionists. While he described these repressive actions as the "real problem," 'Gbenga noted that some African governments attack these platforms "because they are used by the opposition," and as such, "there's the tendency for governments to use that excuse to shut down and restrict platforms that they know citizens use significantly to drive conversations around dissenting voices." Stephanie Höppner contributed reporting Edited by: Keith Walker
DW
16-05-2025
- Business
- DW
Will Meta lawsuits shape Africa's data privacy laws? – DW – 05/16/2025
African countries are stepping up efforts to hold global tech giants like Meta accountable for data privacy violations. Could this mark a turning point in the continent's digital sovereignty? US tech giant Meta — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — vowed earlier this month to fight huge fines issued by authorities in Nigeria for regulatory breaches. It comes after a Nigerian tribunal in April rejected Meta's appeal against a $220 million (€202 million) fine imposed last year by the country's consumer protection agency, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). FCCPC chief executive officer Adamu Abdullahi said investigations carried out in conjunction with the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) between May 2021 and December 2023 revealed "invasive practices against data subjects/consumers in Nigeria." The FCCPC accused Meta of discriminatory practices, abuse of market dominance, sharing Nigerians' personal data without authorization and denying Nigerians the right to determine how their data is used. A Meta spokesperson told the AFP news agency that they "disagree with the NDPC's decision, which fails to take into account the wide range of settings and tools that allow everyone using Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria to control how their information is used." "We're committed to protecting user privacy and have appealed the decision." Content moderation sparks legal action Meanwhile, according to British daily The Guardian, lawyers are preparing for a lawsuit against Majorel, a company owned by tech contractor Teleperformance, which is paid by Meta for content moderation. Content moderators working for Majorel in Ghana's capital, Accra, told The Guardian that they have suffered from depression, anxiety, insomnia, and substance abuse. They believe this is a direct result of their work as content moderators. They also claim that the psychological support offered to help process disturbing social media content was inadequate. Explainer: Why Meta's monopoly is dangerous for you To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Teleperformance reportedly denies these accusations. According to The Guardian, the company employs its own mental health professionals, who are registered with the local supervisory authority. DW asked Majorel for comment but received no reply. In September 2024, a court in Kenya ruled that Meta can be sued, leading to further court cases and mediation proceedings. Calls for stronger regulatory framework Africa is a growing market for tech, with more companies setting up operations on the continent than elsewhere across the world. Beyond growth and expansion opportunities for global tech firms, the African continent also provides cheap labor and access to millions of multicultural and diverse users. However, unlike in Europe, holding tech companies accountable in Africa is complicated by lax and weak enforcement of data protection laws, most of which are similar to the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). "It's a shifting landscape," said Akintunde Babatunde, executive director of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), a think tank. He noted that "whatever happens to those lawsuits will set precedent for what would potentially be a playbook for a lot of other countries on the continent." Babatunde attributes this to the evolution of tech companies over the years. "Tech platforms are no longer neutral platforms. They now serve as digital infrastructure for activism, social movements, the public sphere and even the digital economy," he said, calling for regulatory frameworks for tech platforms in Africa, as with other basic amenities. "We should think of them the same way we think of roads or airports as essential utilities that are central to everyday life. And just as airports are regulated locally and globally by aviation bodies, there's a need for a similar framework for tech platforms [on the continent]." 'Gbenga Sesan, executive director of Paradigm Initiative, an NGO working to connect under-served young Africans with digital opportunities, told DW that the decisions of these African countries goes beyond exerting digital sovereignty, aiming to boost regulatory revenues. Nigerians fuel TikTok craze To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Some African countries are already working towards securing the value chains by strengthening their data laws. For instance, Nigeria's data protection agency says it generated over $1.2 million in regulatory revenue within the last two years. "Many countries in Africa have seen what happened in India, Europe and other regions, and are thinking that 'these companies are collecting our data and not paying anything for it'. That is also a significant factor behind the fines. But these fines are not an end in themselves," the digital rights expert said. "It's important that every company, including Meta and others, knows that there'd be consequences if data privacy laws aren't adhered to." What happens next? While it seems that Africa is gradually taking matters into its own hands, there are still palpable fears about governments on the continent using digital regulation and privacy laws to suppress dissenting voices under the guise of tech accountability. In recent years, young Africans have used platforms owned by global tech companies, such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), to mobilize and hold their governments accountable. The 'Gen Z protests' in Kenya began with a hashtag on X before morphing into a movement that eventually forced authorities to back down on a controversial finance bill. In 2021, the Nigerian government suspended X after the platform deleted a post from former President Muhammadu Buhari threatening to punish regional secessionists. While he described these repressive actions as the "real problem," 'Gbenga noted that some African governments attack these platforms "because they are used by the opposition," and as such, "there's the tendency for governments to use that excuse to shut down and restrict platforms that they know citizens use significantly to drive conversations around dissenting voices." A day without a smartphone — is that still possible? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Stephanie Höppner contributed reporting Edited by: Keith Walker
Business Mayor
26-04-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Nigerian tribunal upholds $220 million fine against Meta
A Nigerian tribunal on Friday rejected Meta's appeal against a $220-million fine imposed by the country's consumer protection agency last year for a myriad of consumer data Facebook and WhatsApp parent company will also have to pay the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) an additional $35,000 for the cost of its original investigation into the company, commission spokesman Ondaje Ijagwu said in a statement. The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal 'ruled that the multiple actions by WhatsApp and Meta, for which the Commission made findings of violations, were correctly identified, and that the Commission did not err in making those findings', Ijagwu said. Meta has until the end of June to pay the fine, local media reported. Nigeria had accused Meta of violating the country's data protection and consumer rights laws on Facebook and WhatsApp. FCCPC chief executive officer Adamu Abdullahi said investigations carried out in conjunction with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission between May 2021 and December 2023 revealed 'invasive practices against data subjects/consumers in Nigeria'. Abdullahi accused Meta of discriminatory practices, abuse of market dominance, sharing Nigerians' data without authorisation and denying Nigerians the right to determine how their data are used.A WhatsApp spokesperson said in an email statement after the fine was first announced in June 2024 that 'we disagree with this decision as well as the fine.' The country had some 164.3 million internet subscriptions as of March, according to figures published on the National Communication Commission's website. Meta's social media platforms — WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram — are among the most popular in the country. Meta is facing a similar headache in Europe after the EU fined it 200 million euros over its 'pay or consent' system, which violated rules on the use of personal data on Facebook and Instagram. tba/nro/kjm READ SOURCE
India Today
25-04-2025
- Business
- India Today
Nigeria fines Meta $220 million for Facebook and WhatsApp data misuse
In a major blow to tech giant Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp has lost its appeal against a $220 million fine imposed by Nigeria's consumer protection authority. The verdict was delivered on Friday by Nigeria's Competition and Consumer Protection penalty, initially imposed in 2023 by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), stemmed from multiple consumer data violations uncovered during a joint probe with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission. Additionally, Meta has been ordered to pay an extra $35,000 to cover the FCCPC's investigative to FCCPC spokesperson Ondaje Ijagwu, the tribunal found Meta and WhatsApp guilty of engaging in several unlawful practices. These included the unauthorized sharing of Nigerians' data, discriminatory data handling, and abuse of market dominance. The commission argued that these actions violated Nigeria's consumer protection and data privacy laws. 'The tribunal ruled that the multiple actions by WhatsApp and Meta, for which the Commission made findings of violations, were correctly identified, and that the Commission did not err in making those findings,' Ijagwu Denies AllegationsAccording to Barron's, Meta has denied any wrongdoing and expressed disagreement with the ruling and imposed penalties. A WhatsApp spokesperson reiterated the company's stance in an email shortly after the fine was first announced in June its objections, Meta has until the end of June to comply with the tribunal's ruling and settle the fine, as reported by local media ruling adds to Meta's mounting global regulatory troubles. The company is also facing a 200 million fine from the European Union over its controversial 'pay or consent' data model on Facebook and Instagram, which regulators say violates EU data privacy over 164 million internet subscriptions as of March 2025, Nigeria remains one of Meta's biggest markets in Africa. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp dominate online Read: Brazil's Ex-President Collor de Mello jailed for corruption charges
