The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has fined Multichoice Nigeria N766.2 million for breaking the country’s data protection law.
Multichoice, the company behind DStv and GOtv, was found guilty of violating the privacy rights of its subscribers and even people who are not customers. The NDPC said Multichoice also sent Nigerians’ personal data outside the country without proper approval, which is against the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act).
The NDPC began investigating Multichoice in the second quarter of 2024 after reports of privacy violations. According to the Commission, Multichoice’s handling of data was “intrusive, unfair, unnecessary and disproportionate.” The Commission called this a serious attack on the right to privacy protected by Nigeria’s Constitution.
The NDPC explained that it had asked Multichoice to fix the issues, but the company’s efforts were not good enough. Because of this, the Commission ordered Multichoice to pay the N766.2 million fine. This is the biggest fine the NDPC has issued since the NDP Act became law in 2023.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, said the Commission prefers to help companies correct their mistakes instead of just giving fines. “Usually, when we investigate and find a breach, if they are ready to comply with the law, what is the point of making noise? It’s only when an organization is unwilling to comply with the law that we are forced to impose sanctions,” he said.
The NDPC also announced that it will investigate all Multichoice outlets in Nigeria to ensure they are following data protection rules. Any outlet found breaking the law could face penalties.
This fine comes at a tough time for Multichoice Nigeria. The company has lost 1.4 million subscribers in the last two years, partly because of rising prices for DStv and GOtv. Multichoice recently cut the price of its DStv decoder and offered subscription upgrades to attract more customers.
This case shows that Nigeria is getting serious about protecting people’s data. The NDPC says it will keep working to make sure companies respect privacy rights and follow the law.
