Tinubu Orders FCCPC Probe Into Meta, Google, X, AI Platforms Over Alleged Exploitation of Nigerian Media Content

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate leading global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the unauthorised use of content belonging to Nigerian media organisations.

The directive followed a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), an umbrella body 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).

The move is expected to mark a significant turning point in the relationship between global digital platforms and Nigeria’s media industry, which has long complained that technology companies benefit commercially from locally produced journalism without providing adequate compensation.

The directive was conveyed to the FCCPC through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

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

According to the FCCPC, the investigation follows allegations of anti-competitive conduct, unlawful exploitation of news content and other practices that may undermine fair competition within Nigeria’s digital economy.

The Commission said the petition submitted by the NPO raised concerns that the activities of these companies could be threatening the commercial sustainability of Nigerian media organisations while undermining the rights of content creators and publishers.

It noted that the rapid expansion of digital platforms and AI technologies has intensified concerns within the media industry over the use of original journalistic content without consent or financial compensation.

FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, assured stakeholders that the investigation would be independent, transparent and guided strictly by evidence.

“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,” Bello said.

He stressed that the investigation should not be interpreted as a presumption of wrongdoing against any company.

“This inquiry is not directed at any entity by presumption of wrongdoing. Rather, it is an opportunity to carefully examine the facts, hear from all affected parties and determine whether any conduct has resulted in anti-competitive outcomes or unfair business practices. Every party will be accorded a fair opportunity to present relevant information before any conclusions are reached,” he added.

The Commission said investigators would examine whether the alleged conduct violates the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 or any other applicable Nigerian law.

Among the key issues under review are allegations of market dominance, anti-competitive behaviour and the unauthorised extraction, scraping, ingestion and commercial use of copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials and other original journalistic works for the development and training of Generative AI models.

The FCCPC will also investigate complaints by Nigerian publishers that they have been denied meaningful opportunities to negotiate fair commercial agreements and appropriate compensation for the use of their content by global technology companies.

The investigation comes as governments around the world continue to scrutinise the relationship between digital platforms and news publishers.

Several countries have already introduced regulations requiring technology companies to negotiate payment agreements with media organisations for the use of their journalistic content. In South Africa, sustained pressure from publishers and investigations by the country’s Competition Commission resulted in Google agreeing to pay South African news organisations about R688 million annually for between three and five years.

Observers say the outcome of Nigeria’s investigation could reshape the country’s digital media landscape and establish new rules governing how technology companies engage with local publishers.

The latest probe also follows the FCCPC’s recent legal victory against Meta over alleged breaches of Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws, including data privacy violations. The Commission had imposed a $220 million penalty on the company, a decision Meta is currently appealing.

The Federal Government’s latest action signals its determination to ensure that multinational technology companies operating in Nigeria comply with local laws while guaranteeing that Nigerian media organisations receive fair value for the journalism that supports the country’s digital information ecosystem.