President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to investigate major global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and unlawful exploitation of the content of Nigerian media organisations.
This came about four months after Tinubu promised that his government would support the evidence-led campaign of the Nigerian media against Big Tech dominance, anti-competitive activities, and the harsh economic headwinds affecting local media.
The move followed a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation, an umbrella body comprising the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers.
The directive, conveyed to the FCCPC through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, could open a new chapter in the relationship between global digital platforms and Nigeria’s media industry, which has for years complained about declining revenues and the increasing use of its content by technology companies without compensation.
A statement issued on Monday by the Director of Corporate Affairs at the FCCPC, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the investigation would focus on allegations against major technology companies, including Meta, Alphabet, which owns Google, and X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as certain Generative Artificial Intelligence platforms operating in Nigeria.
The statement read, “Big technology companies have come under the radar of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission following allegations of anti-competitive practices, unlawful exploitation of news content, and other potentially unfair market conduct. Also to be investigated are Generative Artificial Intelligence platforms operating in Nigeria. This is a sequel to a directive from President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, to FCCPC to look into a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation.”
The media organisations alleged that the activities of the firms could be undermining fair competition, threatening the commercial viability of Nigerian media organisations, and violating the legitimate rights of content creators and publishers.
