WhatsApp, a widely used messaging platform in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, could suspend operations soon.
This potential move comes in response to additional demands from Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection watchdog, which recently imposed a $220 million fine on Meta Platforms for breaching data privacy laws.
At least four people familiar with the conversation said Meta was considering “withdrawing certain services” in Nigeria, according to a report by TechCabal.
According to a WhatsApp spokesperson, the new order contains several inaccuracies and misrepresents how the platform operates.
WhatsApp spokesperson says:
“We want to be really clear that technically, based on the order, it would be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria or globally,”
“This order contains multiple inaccuracies and misrepresents how WhatsApp works. 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. We are urgently appealing the order to avoid any impact on users,” the statement added.
Meta did not comment on the FCCPC’s claim that WhatsApp did not allow users to opt out of the 2021 policy. However, the company insisted that its January 2021 Privacy Policy update does not include sharing user data with third parties.
“While traditionally mobile carriers and operators store this information, we believe that keeping these records for two billion users would be both a privacy and security risk and we don’t do it,” the privacy document reads.
While Meta is undoubtedly subject to regulatory oversight, the proportionality of the $220 million fine levied by the FCCPC is questionable, two government figures who asked not to be named said.
Commercial cost
According to Statista, WhatsApp has established itself as the leading social media platform in the country, engaging approximately 95 per cent of Nigeria’s internet users. The platform has an estimated 51 million users in the country, which means 1 in 4 active mobile lines are engaging on the platform.
With this vast user base across the country, it has become an important platform for personal, professional, and commercial interactions. Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rely on WhatsApp for customer engagement, marketing, and transactions.
The introduction of the WhatsApp Business API service in Nigeria has further strengthened its role in business operations and commerce.
This shows that WhatsApp’s exit from the country would have profound economic consequences, potentially disrupting business activities, affecting customer engagement, and impacting the broader commercial landscape.
