WhatsApp may suspend its services in Nigeria following directives from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and a $220 million fine imposed on its parent company, Meta.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Meta is contemplating “scaling back certain services” in the Nigerian market.
A company representative explained that adhering to the FCCPC’s directives would render it technically infeasible to operate WhatsApp in Nigeria or anywhere else.
“This order contains significant inaccuracies and misrepresents WhatsApp’s operations. The service relies on minimal data to function and ensure user safety. Without Meta’s infrastructure, providing WhatsApp would be impossible in Nigeria or globally. We are urgently appealing the directive to mitigate its impact on users,” the spokesperson stated.
The fine and order stem from claims by the FCCPC in July that Meta abused Nigerian users’ data. The commission alleged that the company leveraged its market dominance to enforce exploitative privacy policies, collecting users’ data without adequate consent.
The FCCPC directed WhatsApp to cease sharing user information with other Meta entities or third parties without explicit approval. It also required WhatsApp to disclose its data collection practices and allow users greater control over their data.
These developments followed a three-year probe into Meta’s activities from May 2021 to December 2023.
Meta has strongly opposed the FCCPC’s findings and is appealing the decision. The company presented 22 arguments challenging the fine, highlighting procedural issues and disputing the legal grounds of the FCCPC’s requirements.
Meta also criticized the FCCPC’s order for its lack of clarity, asserting that it had already updated its privacy policy to provide Nigerian users with enhanced control over their data. Instead of meeting the FCCPC’s demands, Meta proposed an opt-out mechanism for users.
The company further argued that reverting to its pre-2016 data-sharing policies, as requested by the FCCPC, is not feasible. Meta maintained that it has not violated Nigerian users’ rights and attributed confusion to misunderstandings about data transfers between WhatsApp and Facebook.
With WhatsApp serving over 50 million Nigerians, including individuals and small businesses, its potential withdrawal could significantly disrupt communication and commerce across the country.
