Meta’s $220m Fine Signals New Era In Digital Regulation – NPAN

MONDAY May 5, 2025 |
By thenewsdesk.ng

The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has welcomed the ruling of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) which upheld a $220 million fine imposed on Meta Platforms Incorporated, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.

The penalty followed a 30-month investigation conducted between 2021 and 2023 by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which found Meta guilty of unauthorised data sharing and discriminatory practices against Nigerian users.

In a statement issued to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, NPAN President Kabiru Yusuf and General Secretary Angela Emuwa said the CCPT’s ruling represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to enforce digital accountability and protect citizens’ rights in the digital age.

“In an era where digital platforms wield enormous influence over societies and economies, it is imperative that companies operating in Nigeria’s digital space comply fully with domestic laws and regulations. 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 said.

NPAN further stated that Nigeria’s CCPT’s decision aligns with a broader global trend in which regulatory bodies are increasingly taking firm action against major technology companies for violations of data protection and competition laws.