President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major global technology companies, including Google, Meta and X, as well as Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms, over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the unauthorised exploitation of content produced by Nigerian media organisations.
The directive follows a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), an umbrella body representing the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).
According to the petition, the organisations accused the technology firms and AI platforms of using news content created by Nigerian media without adequate authorisation, attribution or compensation. They also raised concerns that such practices could undermine the sustainability of Nigeria’s media industry by reducing advertising revenue and weakening the commercial value of original journalism.
The Presidency has tasked the FCCPC with examining whether the activities of the affected companies violate Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws, as well as determining whether regulatory measures are required to ensure fair treatment of local media organisations.
The outcome of the investigation could shape Nigeria’s approach to regulating digital platforms and AI companies, particularly in areas relating to copyright, competition, and compensation for news publishers.
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