The Federal Government has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to launch an investigation into major technology firms, including X (formerly Twitter), Meta, and Generative AI companies, over alleged anti-media and anti-competitive practices in Nigeria.
The regulatory probe was triggered by a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO).
The coalition represents key industry bodies, including the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).
In a formal letter instructing the FCCPC to investigate the claims, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised by the country’s media stakeholders.
The petition accused companies, including Meta, Alphabet, X and some Generative AI platforms of practices that could undermine fair competition, weaken the commercial viability of Nigerian media organisations and affect the rights of publishers and content creators.
The commission said it would examine claims of market dominance, alleged unauthorised scraping and commercial use of copyrighted news content for training Generative AI models, as well as concerns over the absence of fair commercial agreements between global technology firms and Nigerian news publishers.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, said the commission would carry out an independent, transparent and evidence-based investigation.
He said: “We recognise the strategic importance of the media to Nigeria’s democracy and the equally significant role of technology in driving innovation and economic growth.
‘’Our responsibility is to objectively determine the facts and ensure that competition within the digital ecosystem remains fair, transparent, and consistent with Nigerian law.”
Bello said the inquiry should not be seen as a presumption of wrongdoing against any organisation, stressing that all parties would have the opportunity to present their positions before any conclusions were reached.
He said the commission would determine whether any conduct breached the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 or any other applicable law.
Persecondnews recalls that FCCPC had previously investigated Meta and secured a ruling in 2025 over violations of the FCCPA, leading to a $220 million fine, which the company had appealed.
Author
Leave a comment