WhatsApp, a major messaging platform around the world, may suspend its services in Nigeria soon, following Imposition of penalty on the platform for allegedly breaching data privacy laws in the country.
According to a Vanguard newspaper report, the potential move follows the imposition of a $220 million fine on Meta Platforms for allegedly breaching data privacy laws.
TechCabal had informed that Meta is considering withdrawing certain services in Nigeria based on the recent regulatory demands.
The Vanguard publication referenced sources familiar with the discussions as revealing that the company is evaluating the impact of the new order.
“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. We are urgently appealing the order to avoid any impact on users,” stated by a WhatsApp spokesperson who addressed the situation.
Recall that, last month, the FCCPC had slammed a $220 million (over ₦300 billion) fine on Meta for allegedly abusing the Nigerian users’ data.
The commission claimed that Meta used its market power to enforce exploitative privacy policies and collect users’ data without proper consent.
It called on WhatsApp to stop sharing user data with other Meta companies and third parties without approval or consent. The regulator also said that WhatsApp must provide information about data collection and restore user control over data usage.
The decision followed a three-year investigation into Meta’s conduct and operations between May 2021 and December 2023.
Meta has argued against the FCCPC’s order to stop sharing user information, claiming it cannot revert to its 2016 data-sharing policy.
The messaging platform further argued that it has not threatened Nigerian users and that there is confusion surrounding the data transfer to Facebook.
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