President Tinubu has ordered FCCPC to probe Meta, Google, X, and AI platforms over alleged exploitation of Nigerian media content.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to investigate leading global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the unlawful exploitation of content belonging to Nigerian media organisations.
The directive follows a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation, raising concerns about the activities of major digital platforms operating in Nigeria.
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In a statement issued on Monday, the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, disclosed that the investigation will focus on allegations against major technology firms, including Meta, Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, and X, formerly known as Twitter. The probe will also extend to Generative AI platforms operating within the country.
According to the statement, the companies are accused of engaging in anti-competitive practices, unlawfully exploiting news content produced by Nigerian media organisations, and other conduct that may amount to unfair market practices.
The FCCPC said the investigation was initiated following President Tinubu’s directive in response to the petition filed by the Nigerian Press Organisation.
The commission stated that it will examine whether the activities of the affected technology companies and AI platforms violate Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws, as well as assess their impact on the country’s media industry.
The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for the relationship between global technology firms, AI developers, and Nigerian news publishers amid growing global debates over the use of media content by digital platforms.
