Tinubu orders FCCPC to investigate Meta, X, AI platforms over media content use
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the unauthorised use of content belonging to Nigerian media organisations.
The directive followed a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which 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 Federal Government’s directive was conveyed to the FCCPC in a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
The petition raises concerns about the growing influence of digital platforms on the sustainability of Nigeria’s news industry. It names major technology companies including Meta, Alphabet and X, formerly Twitter, as well as some Generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria, accusing them of practices that could undermine fair competition, the commercial viability of media organisations and the rights of content creators and publishers.
Reacting to the directive, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tunji Bello said the commission would carry out an independent, transparent and evidence-based investigation.
He said the commission recognised both the vital role of the media in sustaining democracy and the importance of technology in driving innovation and economic growth, adding that the investigation would objectively establish the facts and ensure competition within the digital ecosystem remains fair and consistent with Nigerian law.
Bello stressed that the inquiry should not be viewed as an assumption of wrongdoing against any company.
According to him, every affected party will have the opportunity to present relevant information before any conclusions are reached.
The commission said the investigation would determine whether the alleged practices contravene the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable law.
Among the issues to be examined are allegations of market dominance and anti-competitive conduct, as well as the unauthorised extraction, scraping, ingestion or commercial use of copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials and other original journalistic content for the development and training of Generative AI models.
The FCCPC will also investigate claims that Nigerian media organisations have been denied fair commercial arrangements and meaningful opportunities to negotiate compensation for the use of their content by global technology companies.
The commission noted that it previously investigated Meta and secured a 2025 judgment against the company over alleged violations of the FCCPA, including data privacy breaches, resulting in a $220 million fine. Meta has appealed the ruling.
It also referenced developments in South Africa, where Google agreed to compensate news organisations with about R688 million ($40 million) annually for between three and five years following an investigation by the South African Competition Commission.
