The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Vincent Olatunji, has announced that Nigeria and Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, are actively engaged in dialogue and collaboration to resolve their ongoing data breach dispute. �
Speaking on Tuesday at a one-day intensive workshop for data protection officers (DPOs) in Abuja, Olatunji emphasized the commission’s commitment to seeking amicable resolutions with organizations rather than resorting to unnecessary escalations. �
�Our new approach is partnership. We are working with them to see if we can resolve the issue. We don�t throw the baby out with the bathwater. What we do today is to look at the issues what do we need to resolve, and are they willing to do what is right? We have to look at political ways of solving it,� the NDPC boss stated.
The dispute arose in 2024 when the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) imposed a substantial fine of $220 million on Meta for multiple data privacy violations following a joint investigation with the NDPC. WhatsApp subsequently announced its intention to appeal the fine and threatened to cease operations in Nigeria. �
The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upheld the $220 million fine on April 25, prompting Meta to issue a further threat to shut down its Facebook and Instagram operations in the country. �
However, according to Olatunji, the NDPC has a clear strategy in place to resolve the matter and alleviate public concerns. �Even when you go to work, you see that there�s a right way to resolve issues. So, I�m sure we�re going to resolve it,� he assured.
In a related development at the workshop, the NDPC solidified its commitment to strengthening data protection capacity in Nigeria by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mastercard. �
Olatunji also highlighted the federal government’s dedication to increasing the number of certified Data Protection Officers equipped with the necessary skills to effectively manage data protection within organizations. He expressed optimism about the collaboration with Mastercard, noting the potential benefits for both Nigeria and the global payment technology giant, and emphasized the readiness of Nigeria’s tech-savvy youth to contribute to the digital landscape. �
This collaborative approach between the NDPC and Meta signals a positive step towards resolving the data breach dispute, while the partnership with Mastercard underscores Nigeria’s commitment to bolstering its data protection framework.
