President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the unlawful exploitation of content produced by Nigerian media organisations.
The directive follows a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO).
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu.
According to the statement, the investigation will examine allegations against some of the world’s largest technology companies, including Meta, Alphabet—the parent company of Google—and X, formerly known as Twitter.
The probe will also extend to certain Generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria.
The FCCPC said the investigation will focus on claims that the companies engaged in anti-competitive practices, unlawfully exploited news content created by Nigerian media organisations, and engaged in other potentially unfair market conduct.
Part of 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.”
It added:
“Also to be investigated are Generative Artificial Intelligence platforms operating in Nigeria. This is in sequel to a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to FCCPC to look into a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation.”
The investigation follows concerns raised by the Nigerian Press Organisation, which reportedly accused global technology companies and AI platforms of benefiting from journalism produced by Nigerian media outlets without adequate compensation or fair commercial arrangements.
The FCCPC is expected to determine whether the companies’ activities violate Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws.
The move places Nigeria among a growing number of countries examining the relationship between technology companies, AI developers and news publishers.
Around the world, regulators have increasingly scrutinised how digital platforms use media content, with several governments introducing measures to ensure news organisations receive fair compensation for the value their content generates online.
The FCCPC has not yet announced a timeline for concluding the investigation or identified the specific Generative AI platforms that will be examined.