Tinubu Orders FCCPC Probe Of Google, Meta, X Over Nigerian News Content

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a competition investigation into Google, Meta, X and some generative AI platforms over complaints that Nigerian news content is being used unfairly and without proper compensation.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will handle the inquiry after a joint petition from the Nigerian Press Organisation, which includes newspaper proprietors, journalists, broadcasters and online publishers.

The petition accuses major digital platforms of practices that could weaken fair competition, reduce the commercial value of Nigerian media work and hurt the rights of publishers and creators.

The FCCPC said the directive was conveyed through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris. The companies named in the reports include Meta, Alphabet, which owns Google, and X, formerly Twitter, along with some AI platforms operating in Nigeria.

FCCPC chief executive Tunji Bello said the commission would run an independent and evidence based investigation. He said the goal is to establish the facts and ensure digital competition in Nigeria stays fair and consistent with the law.

The case comes as newsrooms worldwide push back against technology companies that display, summarise or train systems on journalism while advertising revenue moves away from publishers.

Sources: Punch; Daily Post; Daily Trust