Nigerian media hail probe into Big Tech content use
Media organisations have welcomed President Tinubu’s directive for the FCCPC to investigate global tech platforms over alleged unfair use of Nigerian content.
The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) has commended President Bola Tinubu for directing the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence platforms. The umbrella body, which represents key media stakeholders, described the directive as a significant step towards protecting the sustainability of Nigeria’s media industry.
The investigation follows a joint petition submitted by the NPO’s member organisations, including the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP). The petition alleged anti-competitive conduct, the unauthorised use of copyrighted journalistic content and unfair commercial practices against Nigerian media organisations. Companies named in the probe include Meta, Alphabet (Google’s parent company), X and several Generative AI platforms.
“We are pleased that the government has commenced this investigation,” the NPO said in a statement. “Beyond the clear and present danger posed by Big Tech’s anti-competitive behaviour, their lack of transparency and accountability also carries very serious consequences for journalism as a public-interest good”.
The NPO argued that for years, major technology companies have weakened the commercial viability of Nigerian media organisations by using original journalistic content without fair compensation. The concerns were formally presented to President Tinubu during a meeting in March, where the delegation drew his attention to what it described as the growing threat posed by dominant digital platforms to the survival of Nigeria’s media industry.
The FCCPC said the inquiry would determine whether the companies breached the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable law.
This is not the first time Nigeria has confronted global tech platforms. In 2024, the FCCPC fined Meta $220 million for alleged violations of Nigeria’s data protection and consumer rights laws. Meta is appealing the fine. The current probe represents an escalation of that confrontation, extending from data privacy to content monetisation. The Google deal with South African publishers, where the company committed to paying local publishers for content used in Google News and Discover, has set a precedent that Nigerian publishers are now seeking to replicate.
The winners: Nigerian media organisations, which may finally receive compensation for their content. The losers: Meta, Google and other tech platforms, which face new costs and regulatory restrictions in Nigeria.
Bottom Line: Nigeria’s media industry has won the first battle. The war with Big Tech is just beginning.