Meta to appeal tribunal’s decision on $220m fine for data breaches

Meta has announced plans to appeal the decision by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) to uphold a $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), over its data practices.

The penalty stems from a 38-month investigation conducted between 2021 and December 2023 by the FCCPC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

The probe revealed unauthorised data sharing, lack of user consent mechanisms, and discriminatory practices that treated Nigerian consumers differently from users in other regions.

In July 2024, based on the findings of the investigation, the FCCPC imposed a $220 million fine on Meta and WhatsApp.

The fine was for alleged violations of Nigeria’s data protection and consumer rights laws, along with a mandate for corrective measures to align Meta’s business practices with Nigerian regulations.

In a ruling delivered on Friday, the tribunal upheld the $220 million fine, affirming the FCCPC’s authority and investigative processes.

The tribunal also ordered Meta to pay an additional $35,000 to cover the costs incurred during the investigation.

According to NAN, the tech giant, in a statement on Saturday, expressed disagreement with the tribunal’s ruling, saying that it would urgently seek to appeal the decision and apply for a stay of execution.

“We are urgently applying to stay the order and appeal today’s decision to avoid any impact to users,” WhatsApp said.

The company also contested the tribunal’s findings, claiming that the ruling misrepresented how WhatsApp operates and included inaccuracies regarding its data practices.