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Just in: Tinubu Orders Probe Against Google, Facebook, X, AI Platforms Over Use of Nigerian Content 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 follows a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), 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).

In a statement issued on Monday, the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the investigation would cover major technology companies, including Meta, Alphabet, the parent company of Google, X (formerly Twitter), as well as Generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria.

According to the commission, the probe is aimed at examining allegations that the companies engage in anti-competitive practices, unlawfully exploit news content, and operate in ways that may undermine fair competition within Nigeria’s digital media landscape.

“The big technology companies have come under the radar of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission following allegations of anti-competitive practices, unlawful exploitation of news content, and other potentially unfair market conduct,” the statement said. It added that the investigation was initiated following President Tinubu’s directive in response to concerns raised by Nigerian media organisations.

The media bodies argued that the activities of some global technology firms threaten the commercial sustainability of local news organisations and undermine the rights of publishers and content creators.

According to the FCCPC, the Nigerian media industry has become increasingly concerned about the growing influence of digital platforms on the country’s news ecosystem.

The commission noted that the petition specifically accused companies such as Meta, Alphabet, X, and certain AI platforms of engaging in practices capable of weakening competition, reducing revenue opportunities for publishers, and using copyrighted news content without adequate authorisation or compensation. FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, assured that the investigation would be conducted independently and based strictly on available evidence.

He said the commission recognises both the importance of a vibrant media industry to Nigeria’s democracy and the critical role technology plays in innovation and economic development. “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 inquiry should not be interpreted as an assumption of wrongdoing by any of the companies involved.

According to him, every organisation under investigation will be given a fair opportunity to present relevant information before any conclusions are reached.

The FCCPC said its investigation will focus on whether the conduct of the companies violates the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, allegations of market dominance and anti-competitive behaviour, the unauthorised extraction and commercial use of copyrighted news content for training AI models, and complaints that Nigerian publishers are being denied fair compensation for the value generated from their content.

The commission noted that the move aligns with similar regulatory actions in other countries. It cited South Africa, where Google agreed to pay news organisations about R688 million (approximately $40 million) annually to support the local news industry.

The investigation also comes months after the FCCPC imposed a $220 million penalty on Meta over alleged regulatory violations, a decision the technology company is currently challenging.

Through the latest probe, the Federal Government says it aims to ensure that international technology companies operating in Nigeria comply with local competition laws while guaranteeing that Nigerian media organisations receive fair value for the content they produce.