Tinubu Orders FCCPC Probe of Big Tech Over Alleged Abuse of Nigerian Media Content

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to launch an investigation into major global technology companies and generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms over alleged anti-competitive practices and the unauthorised use of content belonging to Nigerian media organisations.

The directive follows a petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which comprises the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).

According to a statement issued by FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Presidency acted after a communication from the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who forwarded the media industry’s complaint for regulatory review.

The petition alleges that several global technology firms are engaging in practices that undermine fair competition, weaken the commercial viability of Nigerian media organisations, and infringe on intellectual property rights through the use of news content without proper authorisation or compensation.

Companies expected to come under scrutiny include Meta, Alphabet (Google), X (formerly Twitter) and selected generative AI platforms operating within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

The FCCPC said the investigation will examine allegations of market dominance, content scraping, ingestion and commercial use of copyrighted news materials for AI training, as well as claims that Nigerian publishers are being denied fair compensation for the use of their work.

FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello, said the Commission would conduct an independent and evidence-based inquiry, stressing that all parties would be given fair hearing.

“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 is to objectively determine the facts and ensure fair competition within the digital ecosystem,” Bello said.

He added that the investigation does not imply guilt on the part of any company, but is intended to establish whether any conduct violates the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or other applicable laws.

The Commission noted that it will also review whether Nigerian media organisations have been unfairly excluded from licensing agreements or adequate compensation structures commonly seen in other jurisdictions.

It cited international precedents, including a settlement in South Africa where Google reportedly agreed to pay news publishers annual compensation following a competition inquiry, as well as a $220 million penalty previously imposed on Meta in Nigeria over data privacy violations, which is currently under appeal.

The FCCPC said the probe marks a significant step in Nigeria’s evolving digital regulatory landscape as authorities seek to balance innovation in artificial intelligence with the protection of intellectual property rights and fair market competition.

The investigation is expected to commence in the coming weeks.