WhatsApp may leave Nigeria due to FCCPC demands and a $220 million fine
At least four people familiar with the conversation said Meta was considering “withdrawing certain services” in Nigeria.
WhatsApp, a popular messaging platform in Nigeria, is considering withdrawing its services from the country in response to a $220 million fine and additional demands imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). A week after Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) fined WhatsApp $220 million for a data privacy violation, the commission's additional demands could prompt WhatsApp to suspend its operations in the country. According to at least four insiders, Meta is considering "withdrawing certain services" in Nigeria. The FCCPC accused Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, of violating Nigerian data protection laws by enforcing exploitative and non-compliant privacy practices, including excessive data collection that could lead to device fingerprinting. The investigation found that such practices were not used in Meta's European operations, suggesting discriminatory treatment of Nigerian users. Alongside th…
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