The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has launched an investigation into Meta, X and other major technology companies over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the unlawful exploitation of content belonging to Nigerian media organisations.
The probe, which also covers Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms operating in Nigeria, followed a directive by President Bola Tinubu after a joint petition submitted by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), comprising 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).
The directive was conveyed on Monday, in a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, instructing the FCCPC to investigate the allegations and determine whether the companies breached the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable law.
According to the FCCPC, the investigation is expected to examine allegations that some global technology companies have engaged in anti-competitive conduct, unlawfully extracted or commercially exploited copyrighted news content and adopted business practices that undermine the sustainability of Nigeria’s media industry.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the commission would conduct an independent, transparent and evidence-based investigation to determine whether any of the alleged practices breached the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or other applicable laws.
“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.
He stressed that the investigation does not presume any wrongdoing by the companies involved but is intended to establish the facts after hearing from all parties.
“This inquiry is not directed at any entity by presumption of wrongdoing. Rather, it is an opportunity to carefully examine the facts, hear from all affected parties and determine whether any conduct has resulted in anti-competitive outcomes or unfair business practices. Every party will be accorded a fair opportunity to present relevant information before any conclusions are reached,” he added.
According to the commission, investigators will examine allegations of market dominance and anti-competitive conduct, as well as claims that some technology companies and AI platforms unlawfully scraped, ingested or commercially used copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials and other original journalistic content to develop and train generative AI models without appropriate authorisation or compensation.
The FCCPC will also assess concerns that Nigerian media organisations have been denied meaningful opportunities to negotiate fair commercial agreements or receive adequate compensation for the use of their content by global technology firms.
The commission noted that it had previously investigated Meta and secured a landmark judgment in 2025, which imposed a $220 million fine on the company over violations of the FCCPA, including data privacy breaches. It added that Meta has appealed the decision.
The FCCPC further cited South Africa as an example of similar regulatory action, noting that following complaints by media organisations and an investigation by the South African Competition Commission, Google agreed to compensate South African news publishers with about R688 million (approximately $40 million) annually for between three and five years.