In a decisive move, the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has imposed a $220 million fine on Meta for violating Nigeria’s Data Protection Act. This penalty arises from Meta’s compulsory data privacy conditions for Nigerians registering new WhatsApp accounts, which contrasts sharply with the opt-in/opt-out options available to users in Europe and other countries.
“When you want to register a new WhatsApp, Meta has already made the conditions compulsory for Nigerians to agree to its data privacy specifications, unlike the Yes or No option provided in Europe and other countries, which was why we fined them $220 million,” stated Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, Executive Commissioner of the FCCPC.
The FCCPC discovered that Meta had been sharing the data of Nigerian users across different platforms without their explicit consent, violating the country’s Data Protection Act. “Subsequently, they shared the data of Nigerians across different platforms, which violated the Data Protection Act of Nigeria,” Dr. Abdullahi added.
Dr. Abdullahi highlighted the significance of this action, saying, “We are also proud to say that we are one of the first institutions in Africa to stand against these multinationals and ensure they do the right thing.” This stance underscores Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens’ data privacy and holding global tech giants accountable.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has around 164 million internet subscriptions out of a total population of 200 million. Approximately three-quarters of Nigerians are under the age of 24, many of whom are avid users of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. In December, Communication Minister Bosun Tijani noted that the country had “over 51 million WhatsApp users.”
Meta Bans 63,000 Accounts Linked to Nigeria’s Sextortion Scams
In related news, Meta announced on Wednesday the removal of 63,000 accounts connected to Nigerian cybercriminals known as Yahoo Boys. These accounts were involved in financial sextortion scams targeting users in the United States.
“While our investigation showed that the majority of these scammers’ attempts were unsuccessful and mostly targeted adults, we did see some attempts to target minors,” said Antigone Davis, Meta’s global head of safety. These cases were referred to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The crackdown follows an FBI warning earlier this year about the growing threat posed by financially motivated extortionists to children. These criminals typically coerce teenage males into sharing sexually explicit images and then threaten to release the images unless the victim pays an extortion fee, often through gift cards, mobile payment services, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
Meta revealed that among the 63,000 accounts involved in sextortion scams, it identified a smaller coordinated network of around 2,500 accounts linked to a group of approximately 20 individuals based in Nigeria. These individuals primarily targeted adult men in the United States, using fake accounts to conceal their identities. The investigation also uncovered thousands of related assets, including accounts, pages, and groups that provided tips and guides for conducting scams, as well as scripts and photographs for creating fake accounts.
Meta’s actions highlight the ongoing efforts to combat cybercrime and protect users from online exploitation, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and stringent regulatory measures.
