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WhatsApp exit threat an attempt to sway public opinion, says FCCPC
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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has described Meta’s threat to exit the country in response to the $220m fine as a move to influence public opinion and coerce the commission into reevaluating its decision.
It affirmed that the ruling to fine Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, followed legitimate concerns about consumer protection and data privacy policies contrary to stipulated laws.
Last week, the FCCPC ordered WhatsApp to stop sharing user data with Facebook companies and third parties without explicit consent, provide information on data collection, and restore user control over data usage.
The commission following a comprehensive 38-month investigation into its data privacy practices and market behaviour said Meta parties engaged in multiple and repeated infringements of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation.
It, therefore, fined the parent company the sum of $220m for an unauthorised appropriation of personal data without user consent, discriminatory practices against Nigerian users.
Although, the ruling has been appealed, WhatsApp In an email message to The PUNCH on Thursday, said the imposed penalty may affect services rendered by messaging platform in the country.
This is because WhatsApp relies on limited data infrastructure from its parent company to run its service and keep users safe.
The response signed by a WhatsApp spokesperson read, “WhatsApp relies on limited data to run our service and keep users safe, and it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria, or globally, without Meta’s infrastructure.
“This order contains multiple inaccuracies and misrepresents how WhatsApp works and we are urgently appealing the order to avoid any impact to users.”
But reacting in a post on X (formerly Twitter) late Thursday night, the Consumer Protection Commission stated that the firm discriminated against Nigerian users compared to users in other jurisdictions and abused its dominant market position by forcing unfair privacy policies.
It added that the order is a positive step towards a fair digital market in Nigeria.
The statement read, “WhatsApp’s claim that it may be forced to exit Nigeria due to FCCPC’s recent order appears to be a strategic move aimed at influencing public opinion and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision.
“The FCCPC investigated Meta Platforms and WhatsApp (jointly referred to as “Meta Parties”) for allegedly violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation.
“The Commission found that Meta Parties engaged in multiple and repeated infringements of the FCCPA and the NDPR.
“These infringements included denying Nigerians the right to control their personal data, transferring and sharing Nigerian user data without authorisation, discriminating against Nigerian users compared to users in other jurisdictions and abusing their dominant market position by forcing unfair privacy policies.”
It added that, “The final order requires Meta Parties to take steps to comply with Nigerian law, stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, change their practices to meet Nigerian standards and respect consumer rights.
“To deter future violations and ensure accountability for the alleged infringements the FCCPC also imposed a monetary penalty of $220m.
“The FCCPC’s actions are based on legitimate concerns about consumer protection and data privacy and the order is a positive step towards a fairer digital market in Nigeria. Similar measures are taken in other jurisdictions without forcing companies to leave the market. The case of Nigeria will not be different,” the statement concluded.
No fewer than 76 ISWAP terrorists have abandoned their enclaves and surrendered to troops within the North-East theatre of operations as part of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), and continued operational successes.
The North East geopolitical zone comprises six states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe.
In a statement by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, revealed that among those who surrendered were key members of the terrorist network, due to relentless military pressure.
“The development highlights the devastating impact of the sustained offensive by Operation HADIN KAI, which continues to dismantle terrorist strongholds, disrupt command and logistics structures, and deny the insurgents freedom of action across the theatre”.
“Persistent military operations have continued to degrade the terrorists’ combat capabilities while eroding confidence within their ranks and leadership. Within the last week alone, a total of 76 terrorist foot soldiers with some families surrendered to troops”
“They are currently in a secure location undergoing profiling, debriefing, and other established procedures in accordance with extant operational protocols,” the statement reads in part.
According to Captain Goni, the operational gains demonstrate the effectiveness of the Nigerian military’s comprehensive counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency strategy, combining precision combat operations, intelligence-led engagements, and coordinated joint efforts with partners.
He added that “the Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in its mission to completely defeat terrorism and restore lasting peace and security across the North-East and the pressure on the remaining terrorist elements will continue unabated until they are completely neutralised or forced to surrender”.
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Ex-Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over a fresh plot to keep the opposition party, the African Democratic Congress, off the ballot in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, he said elements within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government want to use political and legal machinations to exclude the ADC from the ballot.
Atiku urged its supporters to reject every attempt to cherry-pick which opposition parties are permitted to participate in the coming election.
He noted that the ruling party may conspire against democracy but would not decide.
“We are fully aware of their plots. While they seek to sow confusion within the opposition, we know their real target is the ADC because it represents the most credible alternative.
“We therefore call on all Nigerians—not just ADC members and supporters— to rise in defence of democracy and reject any attempt by the ruling party to cherry-pick which opposition parties are permitted to participate in the next general election.
“Our message to the APC and the hooded men plotting in dark chambers is simple: you may conspire, but you will not succeed. If the APC is truly confident in its popularity, why is it so terrified of the ADC?” Atiku added.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits, on Monday, attacked the Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, killing a teacher and abducting an unspecified number of students who were writing the National Examinations Council Senior School Certificate Examination.
The assailants reportedly invaded the community while the examination was in progress, opening fire and throwing residents into panic. One teacher was killed during the attack, while another sustained gunshot injuries.
Residents said the gunmen took away several students and some teachers before fleeing the area. The exact number of those abducted had yet to be determined as of the time of filing this report.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that military personnel stationed in the community had left for a patrol in nearby Uba, about 16 kilometres away, shortly before the attackers struck.
“The soldiers were not around when the terrorists invaded. They came in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately and causing panic. They abducted students writing the NECO examination along with some teachers,” the resident said.Death & Tragedy
The attack disrupted the ongoing examination and forced residents to flee for safety as the gunmen operated freely in the community.
The spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, confirmed the incident, saying security agencies had been notified and that several students remained unaccounted for following the raid.
Efforts to rescue the abducted victims were said to be ongoing, while authorities were yet to disclose the exact number of those kidnapped or provide further details on the operation.
Over 76 ISWAP Terrorists Surrender To Military In N/East
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