The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on Mark Zuckerberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Meta Platforms Incorporated, to promptly pay the $220 million fine imposed by Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and upheld by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal.
In a letter dated Saturday and signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP also demanded that Meta provide adequate compensation and guarantees of non-repetition for victims affected by the company’s violations of Nigerian consumer protection, data privacy laws, and international human rights standards.
“SERAP urges you and Meta to immediately comply with the Tribunal’s judgment and avoid unnecessarily prolonging the harm suffered by the victims by resisting the temptation to file an appeal,” the letter stated.
Additionally, SERAP urged Meta to pay the $35,000 awarded to the FCCPC as investigation costs and to take immediate steps to prevent further rights violations.
The Tribunal, on Friday, upheld the $220 million penalty against Meta following findings of discriminatory and exploitative practices against Nigerian users on Facebook and WhatsApp platforms. The ruling stemmed from a 38-month joint investigation by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) into Meta’s conduct and data privacy practices.
“The Tribunal’s judgment confirms that Meta’s operations in Nigeria have infringed upon the human rights of Nigerians and continue to have a chilling effect on the exercise of those rights,” SERAP emphasized.
According to the organization, Meta’s practices not only breached local regulations under the FCCP Act but also contravened international standards, particularly the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
“Your companies have a responsibility to respect human rights, which requires avoiding causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts and providing effective remedies when violations occur,” SERAP wrote to Zuckerberg.
SERAP warned that it would pursue appropriate legal actions at national, regional, or international levels if Meta fails to meet its demands within seven days of receipt or publication of the letter.
Citing sections 152, 154, and 54 of the FCCP Act, SERAP stressed that victims are entitled to civil compensation for harm suffered and that Tribunal rulings are binding and enforceable through registration with the Federal High Court.
“Meta must ensure enhanced transparency, human rights due diligence, accountability, and remediation to guarantee that Nigerians’ rights are protected on its platforms,” the letter concluded.
The FCCPC initially imposed the administrative penalty on July 19, 2024, after concluding that Meta’s operations in Nigeria violated consumer and data protection laws, leading to the Tribunal’s affirmation of the fine earlier this month.
