FG orders FCCPC to investigate X, Meta, AI firms over alleged anti-media practices

The Federal Government has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate X (formerly Twitter), Meta, other major technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) firms over alleged anti-media and anti-competitive practices in Nigeria.

 

The directive followed 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).

 

According to a statement issued by the FCCPC on Monday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, conveyed the directive in a letter requesting the commission to investigate the allegations raised by the media organisations.

 

The petition accused companies, including Meta, Alphabet, X and some Generative AI platforms, of engaging in practices capable of undermining fair competition, weakening the commercial viability of Nigerian media organisations and affecting the rights of publishers and content creators.

 

The commission said its investigation would examine allegations of market dominance, the unauthorised scraping and commercial use of copyrighted news content for training Generative AI models, and concerns over the absence of fair commercial agreements between global technology firms and Nigerian news publishers.

 

Reacting to the directive, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the commission would conduct an independent, transparent and evidence-based investigation.

 

“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, noting that all parties involved would be given the opportunity to present their positions before any conclusions are reached.

 

According to him, the commission will determine whether the alleged conduct violates the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, or any other applicable law.

 

The FCCPC had previously investigated Meta over alleged violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, resulting in a 2025 ruling that imposed a $220 million fine on the company, a decision Meta has appealed.