Nigeria Orders Probe of Meta, Google, X, AI Platforms Over Media Content Exploitation

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate global technology giants and generative artificial intelligence (AI) platforms. The investigation will scrutinize allegations of anti-competitive practices and the exploitation of content belonging to Nigerian media organizations.

This directive stems from a joint petition submitted to the presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which includes prominent media bodies such as the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP). The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, conveyed the president's order to the FCCPC.

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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.

The investigation targets major tech firms including Meta, Alphabet, and X (formerly Twitter), alongside AI platforms operating within Nigeria. This action reflects growing concerns within the Nigerian media industry regarding the increasing influence of digital platforms on the country's news landscape and the financial sustainability of media organizations. The petition specifically alleges that certain technology companies have engaged in practices that undermine fair competition, weaken the commercial viability of Nigerian media outlets, and infringe upon the rights of publishers and content creators.

FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive, Mr. Tunji Bello, assured that the commission would conduct an independent, transparent, and evidence-based investigation to ascertain the facts. He emphasized that the probe should not be interpreted as a presumption of wrongdoing. "Rather, the exercise will provide an opportunity for all parties to present relevant information while the commission objectively determines whether any conduct resulted in anti-competitive outcomes or unfair business practices," Bello stated. He acknowledged the media's crucial role in sustaining democracy and technology's importance in driving innovation and economic growth, stressing the FCCPC's duty to ensure fair and transparent competition within the digital ecosystem, consistent with Nigerian law.

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This inquiry is not directed at any entity by presumption of wrongdoing. Rather, the exercise will provide an opportunity for all parties to present relevant information while the commission objectively determined whether any conduct resulted in anti-competitive outcomes or unfair business practices.