FG institute investigations into Meta, DHL, OPay for alleged data breaches

Federal of Nigeria said it has instituted an investigations into global tech giants Meta, parent company of Facebook, DHL, and online payment platform OPay. Ac cording to the government the investigation is led by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC). This follows a surge in complaints from Nigerians concerning potential data breaches. This inquiry marks the second time NDPC has probed into the activities of companies, banks, and universities within Nigeria regarding alleged data infractions. Dr.Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner of NDPC, reiterated that any breaches of data protection laws would result in strict penalties in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.

He said the commission is  committed to preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s data economy ecosystem. Meta, the social media giant, faces allegations related to behavioural advertising conducted without explicit consent from data subjects. Reports indicate that approximately 40 million Facebook accounts in Nigeria may have been affected by the ongoing investigation. DHL on the other hand is under scrutiny for allegedly violating the lawful basis and principles of data protection. Sources familiar with the investigation claim that DHL’s data processing practices did not meet the confidentiality standards outlined in the Nigeria Data Protection Act. 

OPay, the online payment platform, is being accused of opening bank accounts for data subjects without their consent, a serious violation of data privacy rights affecting around 40 million individuals. If found guilty, these companies could face severe penalties, including forfeiting 2 per cent of their annual gross revenue to the government, and ₦2,000,000 as prescribed by the Data Protection Act 2023 48(5). The affected are keeping sealed lips.