The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) on Sunday backed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on the recent $220 million fine slammed on Meta Platforms Incorporated, which was subsequently upheld by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT).
NPAN, in a statement signed by its President, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf and General Secretary, Angela Emuwa, described the CCPT’s ruling as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to enforce digital accountability and protect the rights of its citizens.
The organisation recalled several instances wherein other countries of the world fined operators of such digital platforms for various infractions, noting that the decision of Nigeria’s CCPT aligned with a broader global trend.
“With significant interest, NPAN has received the news that the CCPT upheld the $220 million fine imposed on Meta Platforms Incorporated, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.
“The penalty was imposed after a 30-month investigation between 2021 and 2023 by the FCCPC for unauthorised data sharing and discriminatory practices by Meta against Nigerian users. The CCPT’s ruling represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to enforce digital accountability and protect the rights of its citizens in the digital age,” the statement said.
It pointed out that in an era where digital platforms wield enormous influence over societies and economies, it was imperative that companies operating in Nigeria’s digital space comply fully with domestic laws and regulations.
According to the organisation, respect for national sovereignty must extend to the digital domain, where the rights and interests of citizens deserve the same robust protections as in any other sphere.
“NPAN further notes that the decision of Nigeria’s CCPT aligns with a broader global trend where regulatory bodies are increasingly taking firm action against major technology companies for violations of data protection and competition laws.
“In 2023, Ireland fined Meta 1.2 billion euros for the company’s failure to comply with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by unlawfully transferring EU user data to the US without adequate safeguards.
“Amazon was fined 746 million euros in 2021 by Luxembourg for a similar breach; while TikTok, Google and Apple have also been penalised at different times for data breaches and anti-trust activities,” NPAN added.
NPAN pointed out that as an association deeply committed to the defence of civil rights, media freedom, and the public good, it reaffirmed its support for strong, fair, and transparent enforcement of laws governing the digital economy.
Besides, the association stated that it also remains steadfast in promoting the digital rights of publishers to secure fair remuneration for their work and safeguarding intellectual property against exploitation amid the growing complexities of the digital landscape.
“We believe that consistent regulatory vigilance, backed by sustained collaboration among all stakeholders — government agencies, civil society, industry players, and the general public — is essential to ensuring that digital platforms operate responsibly, ethically, and in accordance with Nigeria’s legal and social norms.
“NPAN calls for continued efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital regulatory environment to not only safeguard the rights of individuals but also to foster innovation and trust in the country’s growing digital economy,” the statement concluded.