BREAKING: Tinubu orders FCCPC to investigate big tech companies

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has launched an investigation into major technology companies over allegations of anti-competitive practices, unlawful use of news content and other actions said to be harmful to Nigerian media organisations.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the commission to examine a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO).

The NPO comprises 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).

The commission will also investigate Generative Artificial Intelligence platforms operating in Nigeria as part of the inquiry.

The Federal Government conveyed the directive to the FCCPC in a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

The petition centres on concerns by media stakeholders over the growing influence of some digital platforms on the survival of Nigeria’s news industry.

The Nigerian Press Organisation accused major technology firms, including Meta, Alphabet and X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as some Generative AI platforms, of engaging in practices that could weaken fair competition, threaten the financial survival of media organisations and violate the rights of publishers and content creators.

FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, said the commission would carry out a transparent and evidence-based investigation into the claims.

“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 that competition within the digital ecosystem remains fair, transparent, and consistent with Nigerian law,” Bello said.

Bello said the inquiry was not based on any assumption of guilt but was aimed at establishing the facts and hearing from all parties involved.

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“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.”

He said the commission would determine whether the alleged conduct violates the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 or any other relevant law.

The FCCPC had previously investigated Meta and secured a judgment against the company in 2025 over breaches of the FCCPA, including data violations, resulting in a $220 million fine. Meta has appealed the ruling.

According to the commission, the new investigation will focus on allegations of market dominance and possible anti-competitive conduct by the companies involved.

It will also examine claims that copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials and other original journalistic works were extracted, scraped, ingested or commercially used without authorisation for the training and development of Generative AI models.

Another issue under review is the alleged absence of fair commercial arrangements between global technology companies and Nigerian media publishers. At the centre of this is the claim that local media organisations have not been given meaningful opportunities to negotiate compensation or proper commercial terms for the use of their content.

The FCCPC noted that a similar intervention in South Africa led to an agreement under which Google would pay South African news media R688 million, equivalent to about $40 million, every year for a period of three to five years following agitation by media organisations and an investigation by the South African Competition Commission.