WhatsApp has expressed strong disagreement with the ruling of Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, which upheld a $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over alleged discriminatory data practices.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos, the messaging platform, owned by Meta Platforms Inc., said it would urgently file to stay the tribunal’s order and proceed with an appeal.
“We are urgently applying to stay the order and appeal today’s decision to avoid any impact to users,” WhatsApp stated.
On Friday, the tribunal ruled in favour of the FCCPC, affirming both the $220 million penalty and an additional $35,000 payment to cover the commission’s investigative costs. The court also dismissed the appeal filed by WhatsApp and Meta, effectively reinforcing the FCCPC’s claims of data-related violations by the tech giant within Nigeria.
Reacting to the judgment, WhatsApp said the FCCPC’s findings were inaccurate and misrepresented the operational nature of the app. The company stressed that it uses minimal data to provide secure messaging services and warned that the tribunal’s decision could jeopardize its ability to operate in Nigeria.
“WhatsApp relies on limited data to run its service and keep users safe, and it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria or globally without the infrastructure of our parent company,” the company added.
The ruling marks one of the most consequential regulatory actions against a global tech firm in Nigeria and could set a precedent for data protection and antitrust enforcement across the region.
