Omogbehin Olushola
President Bola Tinubu has asked the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to investigate major global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and illegal exploitation of the content of Nigerian media organisations.
The directive was given to the FCCPC in a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
The president also directed that the investigation should include Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms operating in Nigeria
The move was a follow up to a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers.
It accused major technology companies of engaging in practices that undermine fair competition, threaten the commercial sustainability of Nigerian media organisations, and infringe on the rights of publishers and content creators through the unauthorised use of journalistic content.
According to the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the Commission would carry out an independent, transparent and evidence-based investigation to determine whether any of the alleged practices violate the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable law.
A statement issued on Monday by the Director of Corporate Affairs at the FCCPC, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the investigation would focus on allegations against major technology companies, including Meta, Alphabet, which owns Google, and X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as certain Generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria.
The statement partly read, “Big technology companies have come under the radar of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission following allegations of anti-competitive practices, unlawful exploitation of news content, and other potentially unfair market conduct.
“Also to be investigated are Generative Artificial Intelligence platforms operating in Nigeria. This is in sequel to a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to FCCPC to look into a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation.”
Coming barely a year after the FCCPC secured a landmark judgment against Meta over alleged violations of Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws, the latest investigation signals the Federal Government’s determination to ensure that global technology firms operating in Nigeria comply with local laws and that Nigerian publishers receive fair value for the content.
