WhatsApp, a messaging service in Nigeria, is considering suspending its operations in the country in response to recent regulatory actions. This potential suspension comes after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) imposed a hefty $220 million fine on Meta Platforms, WhatsApp’s parent company, for alleged violations of data privacy laws.
The FCCPC’s fine was issued in July, citing concerns over Meta’s handling of Nigerian users’ data. The commission accused Meta of misusing its market power to enforce privacy policies and collect data without proper consent. As part of the order, WhatsApp has been directed to stop sharing user data with other Meta companies and third parties without explicit consent, and to enhance transparency about data collection practices.
In light of these developments, WhatsApp’s spokesperson commented: “We want to be really clear that technically, based on the order, it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria or globally. This order contains multiple inaccuracies and misrepresents how WhatsApp works. WhatsApp relies on limited data to run our service and keep users safe, and it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria or globally without Meta’s infrastructure. We are urgently appealing the order to avoid any impact on users.”
The situation emerged from a comprehensive three-year investigation into Meta’s practices from May 2021 to December 2023. Meta has contested the FCCPC’s demands, arguing that reverting to its 2016 data-sharing policies is not feasible and expressing concerns about confusion regarding data transfers.
The unfolding scenario underscores significant issues regarding data privacy and regulatory compliance, potentially affecting millions of WhatsApp users in Nigeria.
