WhatsApp, a subsidiary of Meta, has announced its intention to appeal the $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for violating Nigeria’s data privacy laws.
In a statement, WhatsApp expressed its disagreement with the decision and fine, stating that it will appeal the ruling. “We disagree with the decision today as well as the fine and Meta will be appealing the decision.”
The FCCPC had earlier accused Meta of denying Nigerian users control over their data, sharing user data without consent, and abusing its market dominance. The commission imposed a monetary penalty of $220 million on Meta, in accordance with the FCCPA 2018 and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations 2020.
The investigation, which began in May 2021, uncovered evidence of Meta’s abusive and invasive practices towards data consumers in Nigeria, including collecting personal data without consent and implementing discriminatory practices against Nigerians.
WhatsApp argued that it had informed users globally about its data collection practices in 2021, which had proven popular despite initial confusion. The company owns and operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, among other products and services.
