NPO backs probe of Meta, Google over content use

Nigeria's media landscape is set for a significant regulatory review following President Bola Tinubu's directive to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). The investigation targets the operations of major global technology firms and generative artificial intelligence platforms within the country.

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The presidential directive followed a joint petition submitted to the Federal Government by its member organisations, comprising the NPAN, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers.

The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) has publicly endorsed the president's decision, viewing it as a crucial step toward resolving long-standing issues concerning the use of journalistic content by digital platforms. The organization believes this inquiry will foster fairer competition within Nigeria's media sector. This presidential action stems from a joint petition submitted by NPO member organizations, including the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers.

In March, a delegation representing these media bodies met with President Tinubu to voice concerns about the escalating threat posed by large technology companies and AI platforms to the sustainability of Nigeria's media ecosystem. The NPO expressed encouragement that the government has now initiated a formal investigation into these matters. The organization alleges that dominant digital platforms like Meta, Alphabet, and X, along with certain generative AI companies, have engaged in practices that harm fair competition by utilizing original journalistic content without adequate compensation to the original publishers.

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The organisation said that, beyond commercial concerns, the lack of transparency and accountability by some technology companies also posed challenges to journalism as a public-interest institution.

Beyond commercial implications, the NPO highlighted that the lack of transparency and accountability from some technology firms also presents challenges to journalism's role as a public-interest institution. The organization noted that similar regulatory actions have been implemented in other countries, such as South Africa, and expressed optimism that the Nigerian investigation will cultivate a more equitable relationship between digital platforms and local media organizations. The FCCPC's Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello, assured the NPO that the inquiry would be conducted independently and transparently, based on available evidence, and the NPO pledged full cooperation.

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The NPO also welcomed the assurance by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, that the inquiry would be conducted independently, transparently and based on available evidence.