WhatsApp May Suspend Services in Nigeria Amid $220 Million Fine on Meta
In a move that could significantly impact millions of users, WhatsApp may soon suspend its services in Nigeria following the imposition of a $220 million fine on its parent company, Meta Platforms, by Nigerian authorities.
The fine, levied by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), was imposed for alleged breaches of data privacy laws in the country.
According to sources cited by TechCabal, Meta is considering withdrawing certain services from Nigeria in response to the regulatory demands. The company is reportedly assessing the potential impact of this decision, with discussions ongoing.
A WhatsApp spokesperson expressed concerns over the situation, stating, “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.
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“We are urgently appealing the order to avoid any impact on users.”
The controversy stems from a July ruling by the FCCPC, which imposed a ₦300 billion (approximately $220 million) fine on Meta for allegedly exploiting Nigerian users’ data without proper consent.
The commission accused Meta of using its market power to enforce unfair privacy policies and mandated that WhatsApp cease sharing user data with other Meta companies and third parties without explicit user approval.
The FCCPC’s decision followed a three-year investigation into Meta’s practices, covering the period from May 2021 to December 2023.
The commission has also ordered WhatsApp to provide detailed information about its data collection practices and restore control to users over their data.
Meta has strongly contested the FCCPC’s ruling, arguing that it cannot revert to its pre-2016 data-sharing policies.
The company has also denied any wrongdoing, insisting that it has not misled or threatened Nigerian users, and that misunderstandings exist regarding the data transfers to Facebook.
As the situation unfolds, there is growing concern over the implications for data privacy and regulatory compliance in Nigeria, with millions of WhatsApp users potentially affected by the outcome of this dispute.
