Tinubu orders probe of Meta, X, others

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the unlawful use of content belonging to Nigerian media organisations.

The directive followed a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), an umbrella body 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 Federal Government’s directive was conveyed to the FCCPC in a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

According to the statement, the investigation is expected to examine concerns raised by the Nigerian media industry over the growing influence of digital platforms on the sustainability of the country’s news ecosystem.

The petition specifically names major technology companies, including Meta, Alphabet, X (formerly Twitter), as well as certain Generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria, alleging practices capable of undermining fair competition, the commercial viability of Nigerian media organisations, and the rights of content creators and publishers.

Reacting to the directive, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the commission would conduct an independent, transparent and evidence-based investigation.

“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 should not be interpreted as a presumption of wrongdoing against any organisation.

“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 FCCPC, the inquiry will determine whether the alleged practices violate the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable law.

Among the issues to be examined are allegations of market dominance and anti-competitive conduct, the unauthorised extraction, scraping, ingestion or commercial use of copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials and other original journalistic content for the development and training of Generative AI models.

The commission will also investigate concerns over the absence of equitable commercial arrangements between global technology companies and Nigerian news publishers, including allegations that local media organisations have been denied meaningful opportunities to negotiate fair compensation for the use of their content.

The FCCPC noted that it had previously investigated Meta and secured a landmark judgment against the company in 2025 over violations of the FCCPA, including data breaches, resulting in a $220 million fine. The company has appealed the decision.

The statement also cited developments in South Africa, where following concerns raised by media organisations and an investigation by the South African Competition Commission, Google agreed to compensate South African news media with R688 million (about $40 million) annually for between three and five years.

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