News
FG orders FCCPC probe into Meta, Google, X and AI platforms over Nigeria media petition
The Federal Government has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate Meta, Alphabet, X and several Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms following a petition by Nigeria’s media industry alleging anti-competitive practices and the unauthorised use of journalistic content.
The investigation, ordered by President Bola Tinubu through Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, marks one of Nigeria’s most significant regulatory interventions in the country’s digital platform economy. Beyond competition concerns, the probe could redefine how global technology companies engage with Nigerian news publishers, particularly over the use of copyrighted content to develop AI systems.
The directive follows a joint petition submitted 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).
At the heart of the complaint are allegations that dominant technology platforms have exploited Nigerian news content without authorisation or compensation while consolidating their market power through digital advertising, search, social media and emerging AI services.
The investigation, ordered by President Bola Tinubu through Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, marks one of Nigeria’s most significant regulatory interventions in the country’s digital platform economy. Beyond competition concerns, the probe could redefine how global technology companies engage with Nigerian news publishers, particularly over the use of copyrighted content to develop AI systems.
Probe targets AI training, content scraping and market dominance, FCCPC says
According to the Federal Government, the FCCPC will investigate allegations of anti-competitive conduct, abuse of market dominance and the unauthorised extraction, scraping, ingestion and commercial use of copyrighted newspaper articles, broadcast materials and other original journalistic works for the development and training of Generative AI models.
The inquiry will also examine whether Nigerian media organisations have been denied meaningful opportunities to negotiate licensing agreements or fair commercial compensation for the use of their content by global technology companies.
If upheld, the allegations could have far-reaching implications for AI governance in Nigeria, particularly around the use of copyrighted local content to train large language models and other generative AI systems.
The investigation places Nigeria alongside a growing number of countries seeking to balance technological innovation with intellectual property protection, fair competition and the long-term sustainability of journalism.
FCCPC promises independent investigation
Tunji Bello, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, says the Commission will conduct an impartial and evidence-based inquiry.
“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,” Bello says, “is to objectively determine the facts and ensure that competition within the digital ecosystem remains fair, transparent, and consistent with Nigerian law.”
Bello stressed that the investigation should not be interpreted as a finding of liability against 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. Every party will be accorded a fair opportunity to present relevant information before any conclusions are reached,” Bello adds.
According to the Commission, the inquiry will determine whether the alleged conduct breaches the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable Nigerian law.
“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,” Bello says, “is to objectively determine the facts and ensure that competition within the digital ecosystem remains fair, transparent, and consistent with Nigerian law.”
Meta faces fresh scrutiny
The latest investigation extends the FCCPC’s regulatory engagement with Meta, which remains one of the Nigerian competition watchdog’s most closely scrutinised global technology companies.
In 2025, the FCCPC secured a landmark judgment against Meta over violations of the FCCPA, including consumer protection and data privacy-related breaches, resulting in a $220 million penalty. The company has appealed the ruling.
The fresh inquiry broadens regulatory attention from consumer protection and privacy to include competition law, copyright, digital markets and AI development practices.
For Meta and other global technology companies, the investigation could influence how AI systems are trained using Nigerian digital content and whether publishers become entitled to licensing agreements or compensation for the commercial use of their intellectual property.
Nigeria joins global push to regulate Big Tech
The FCCPC’s action reflects an emerging international trend in which governments are reassessing the commercial relationship between digital platforms and news publishers.
Across several jurisdictions, regulators have introduced measures requiring major technology companies to negotiate with news organisations over the use of journalistic content.
In South Africa, following an investigation by the Competition Commission, Google agreed to provide annual financial support of R68 million to qualifying news publishers for between three and five years as part of efforts to address imbalances in the digital news ecosystem.
Similar regulatory frameworks have been introduced in Australia and Canada, where governments have required dominant digital platforms to negotiate compensation arrangements with eligible news organisations.
What investigation of Big Tech means for Nigerian media
The Nigerian media industry argues that while global technology companies derive significant commercial value from news content distributed through search engines, social media platforms and AI systems, publishers receive little economic benefit despite bearing the costs of producing original journalism.
The FCCPC investigation therefore extends beyond a competition inquiry. It could establish important precedents for digital platform regulation, AI governance, copyright protection and the future commercial relationship between technology companies and Nigerian news publishers.
Its outcome may also shape Nigeria’s broader digital economy policy by clarifying how competition law applies to Generative AI platforms, online intermediaries and the use of locally produced content in the age of artificial intelligence.
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Zamfara State is heading for a crisis ahead of its fresh primary election to select the party's candidate for the Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency.
Recall that the Court of Appeal had ordered a fresh primary in the constituency.
In what appears to signal the beginning of a brewing crisis within the Zamfara APC, an aspirant, Hassan Dangaladima, has petitioned two organs of the party over the actions of its National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.
In the petition sighted by DAILY POST on Tuesday, which has since gone viral, Dangaladima levelled several allegations against the APC National Chairman.
Chief among his allegations is that Yilwatda unilaterally constituted the committee to conduct the fresh primary without recourse to the National Working Committee (NWC), which he heads.
"Pursuant to the said court order, the National Chairman purported to nominate and approve a committee to conduct the rescheduled primary election.
"The said nomination was made unilaterally by the National Chairman; no meeting of the National Working Committee was convened for that purpose."
The petitioner also alleged that his main rival for the ticket, Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji, is not a card-carrying member of the party.
The petition urged the APC National Executive Committee, NEC, to halt the conduct of the fresh primary and appoint a new set of individuals to conduct the exercise.
However, in response to the petition, the APC National Chairman, through his media aide, Abimbola Tooki, dismissed the allegations as baseless.
According to the party chairman, the committee was properly constituted, contrary to the petitioner's claim.
DAILY POST reports that the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal recently defected to the APC. President Bola Tinubu's re-election campaign Director-General, Abdulaziz Yari, is also from Zamfara State.
APC crisis deepens as Zamfara aspirant accuses Yilwatda of bias ahead of fresh primary
The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, says the party is in the 2027 election race to win and not to make numbers.
Baba-Ahmed made this statement at a strategic retreat organised for the party's leadership and candidates.
He charged the party's candidates to go out and convince Nigerians that PRP deserves their trust and their votes in 2027.
According to him, the party has the best presidential candidate in Donald Duke, adding that history and character have moulded him to lead Nigeria out of its current challenges to a deserved status of affluence, security and unity.
He also said that Duke's running mate, Malam Sule Mohammed, is a study in principled loyalty, excellence in personal and professional life and unparalleled humility, which is tragically rare in current leaders.
Baba-Ahmed said the party also has governorship candidates who will be models of competent leadership, integrity and courage, stressing that they are candidates who will embody service, sacrifice and humility.
"We are PRP. We're in the 2027 race to win not to make numbers. We are products of a great tradition which insists that Nigeria can be great enough for all those who work honestly, and a nation which has the same place for the weak and the vulnerable as it has for those who are trusted with power or possess wealth," Baba-Ahmed said.
According to him, the party is under no illusions that its tasks will be easy, stating that the party will be competing in very hostile environments where incumbents fear change, while PRP champions it.
He said the party will find resistance from politicians who bribe the people for their future, while PRP asks for trust and the courage to choose quality and integrity.
On his part, the party's presidential candidate, Donald Duke, took a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, saying it is enjoying too much advantage when it comes to campaign visibility.
According to him, opposition parties are finding it hard to get venues and places to put their adverts as the 2027 elections draw near.
He said the problem is making it harder and harder for opposition candidates to reach voters in different parts of the country.
-
News2 days agoTroops Arrest Suspected Gunrunner, Neutralise Two Terrorists in Plateau
-
News3 days ago
Makinde Visits COCIN Headquarters in Jos, Urges Christians to Shape Nigeria’s Political Future
-
News4 days ago
Presidency seeks AI safeguards ahead of 2027 elections – Technology Times
-
News4 days ago
Sequoia shutting down its Scouts program marks the end of an era
