BREAKING: Tinubu orders probe of Meta, Google, X, others over alleged exploitation of Nigerian media content

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate global technology companies, including Meta, Google, X (formerly Twitter) and several Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms, over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the unlawful use of content belonging to Nigerian media organisations.

The directive followed 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).

According to the FCCPC, the investigation will examine allegations that some technology firms have exploited Nigerian news content without fair compensation, undermined competition in the digital media space, and used copyrighted journalistic materials to develop and train AI models.

The commission also plans to determine whether these practices violate the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, or any other applicable Nigerian laws.

FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello, said the inquiry would be independent, transparent and evidence-based, stressing that no company is presumed guilty and that all parties would be given a fair opportunity to present their positions.

The development comes amid growing global efforts to compel major technology companies to compensate publishers whose content drives traffic and revenue on digital platforms.

If the allegations are established, the investigation could mark a major turning point for Nigeria’s media industry, strengthen copyright protection for publishers and content creators, and redefine how global technology companies operate within the country’s digital ecosystem.

Join Very Nigerian WhatsApp Channel
For Verified Breaking News, Exclusive Reports, Trending Stories, And Real-time Updates.
CLICk HERE TO JOIN!