WhatsApp’s Possible Nigeria Suspension: A Double-Edged Crisis for Meta
WhatsApp may suspend its operations in Nigeria due to recent regulatory demands. Last week, Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) imposed a hefty $220 million fine on WhatsApp for a data privacy breach. This fine comes alongside stringent orders for WhatsApp to halt sharing user data with other Facebook companies and third parties without explicit consent, and to disclose its data collection practices while enhancing user control over data.
Sources suggest that Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, is considering withdrawing some services from Nigeria. In response, a WhatsApp spokesperson stated that, under the FCCPC’s order, it would be technically impossible to operate WhatsApp both in Nigeria and globally. The spokesperson criticized the FCCPC’s order as flawed and potentially requiring extensive changes to the platform’s infrastructure.
While Meta has not addressed the FCCPC’s concerns regarding user opt-out options from the 2021 privacy policy, it insists that the update does not involve sharing user data. The company’s privacy policy asserts that retaining such information would pose privacy and security risks.
The potential suspension could have far-reaching consequences for individuals and small businesses in Nigeria, many of whom rely on Whatsapp, Instagram, and Facebook for essential customer interactions.
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