President Bola Ahmed 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 use of content belonging to Nigerian media organisations.

The Federal Government’s directive was conveyed to the FCCPC in a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris.

According to the statement, the investigation will examine concerns raised by the Nigerian media industry over the growing influence of digital platforms on the sustainability of the country’s news ecosystem.

The petition specifically names major technology companies, including Meta, Alphabet, X(formally Twitter) as well as certain Generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria. These entities are alleged to be engaging in practices capable of undermining fair competition, the commercial viability of Nigerian media organisations, and the rights of content creators and publishers.

Reacting to the directive, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the commission would conduct an independent, transparent, and evidence-based investigation.

“We recognise the strategic importance of the media to Nigeria’s democracy and the equally significant role of technology in driving innovation and economic growth. Our responsibility is to objectively determine the facts and ensure that competition within the digital ecosystem remains fair, transparent, and consistent with Nigerian law,” Bello said.

He emphasised that the investigation should not be interpreted as a presumption of wrongdoing against any organisation.

“This inquiry is not directed at any entity by presumption of wrongdoing. Rather, it is an opportunity to carefully examine the facts, hear from all affected parties, and determine whether any conduct has resulted in anti-competitive outcomes or unfair business practices. Every party will be accorded a fair opportunity to present relevant information before any conclusions are reached,” he added.

According to the FCCPC, the inquiry will determine whether the alleged practices violate the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable law.

Among the issues to be examined are allegations of market dominance and anti-competitive conduct, as well as the unauthorised extraction, scraping, ingestion, or commercial use of copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials, and other original journalistic content for the development and training of Generative AI models.

The commission will also investigate concerns over the absence of equitable commercial arrangements between global technology companies and Nigerian news publishers, including allegations that local media organisations have been denied meaningful opportunities to negotiate fair compensation for the use of their content.

The FCCPC noted that it had previously investigated Meta and secured a landmark judgment against the company in 2025 over violations of the FCCPA, including data breaches, resulting in a $220 million fine, which the company has appealed.

The statement further cited developments in South Africa, where, following concerns raised by media organisations and an investigation by the South African Competition Commission, Google agreed to compensate news media with R688 million (about $40 million) annually for a period of three to five years.