- Tinubu directed the FCCPC to investigate major tech firms and AI platforms
- The probe follows complaints by Nigerian media organisations over content use
- Authorities will examine possible anti competitive and unfair business practices
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence platforms over allegations of anti competitive practices and the unauthorised use of content produced by Nigerian media organisations.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the directive followed a petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation, a coalition comprising the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the investigation will examine complaints against leading technology firms, including Meta, Alphabet, the parent company of Google, X, formerly known as Twitter, and selected Generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria.
The media organisations alleged that the companies engage in practices that undermine fair competition, threaten the financial sustainability of Nigerian news organisations and exploit copyrighted journalistic content without adequate compensation.
The FCCPC said the inquiry could mark a significant development in Nigeria’s digital media landscape as publishers continue to express concern over declining advertising revenues and the increasing use of their content by technology companies.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Tunji Bello, said the investigation would be conducted independently, transparently and based on verifiable evidence.
He stressed that the commission’s objective is to establish the facts and determine whether the conduct of the companies violates Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws.
Bello clarified that the investigation should not be interpreted as a finding of wrongdoing against any of the companies involved.
According to him, every organisation under investigation will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations and present relevant evidence before any conclusions are reached.
The commission said the investigation will examine whether the companies abused market dominance or engaged in anti competitive practices contrary to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 and other applicable laws.
Another key aspect of the inquiry will focus on claims that some AI platforms unlawfully extracted, stored and commercially used copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials and other original journalistic works to develop and train artificial intelligence models.
The FCCPC will also investigate complaints that Nigerian publishers have been denied fair opportunities to negotiate commercial agreements and receive compensation for the use of their content.
The development reflects growing international efforts to regulate the relationship between digital platforms and media organisations, with several countries introducing measures requiring technology companies to compensate publishers for news content.
The commission noted that the outcome of the investigation could significantly influence the future of digital regulation, media sustainability and content protection in Nigeria.
The latest move also follows the FCCPC’s earlier legal action against Meta, which resulted in a $220 million penalty over alleged breaches of Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws, a decision that remains under appeal.
The Federal Government said the investigation demonstrates its commitment to ensuring that global technology companies comply with Nigerian laws while protecting the rights and commercial interests of local media organisations and content creators.
