President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate Meta, Google, X, and other generative artificial intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the unauthorized use of content produced by Nigerian media organizations.
The directive followed a joint petition submitted by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which comprises 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 the FCCPC, the investigation will examine allegations that global technology companies unlawfully extracted, scraped, and used copyrighted Nigerian news articles, broadcast materials, and other journalistic content to develop and train AI models. It will also assess claims that the companies failed to establish fair commercial arrangements with Nigerian publishers for the use of their content.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tunji Bello said the Commission would conduct an independent and evidence-based investigation. He added that the investigation should not be viewed as evidence of wrongdoing by 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” – Bello
The FCCPC previously investigated Meta over alleged violations of Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws, resulting in a $220 million fine, which the company has appealed.
