Tinubu orders probe into Google, Meta, X over exploitation of news content

The federal government has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to conduct an investigation into Google, Meta, X and several Generative Artificial Intelligence platforms over allegations that they have profited from Nigerian news content without fairly rewarding its creators.

The investigation follows a petition jointly submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which represents 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).

The directive, conveyed through Mohammed Idris, the minister of information and national orientation, tasks the competition regulator with determining whether the activities of companies such as Google, Meta, X and selected AI platforms violate Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws.

In a statement issued on Monday, the FCCPC said the inquiry would examine allegations that some digital platforms have gained commercial value from news reports, broadcast materials and other original journalistic works without entering into equitable commercial arrangements with Nigerian publishers.

The commission said the investigation would also assess complaints that technology companies have leveraged copyrighted media content to develop and improve artificial intelligence systems without the consent of content owners.

According to the FCCPC, media stakeholders believe the practice has weakened the financial sustainability of news organisations by reducing opportunities for publishers to earn fair returns from the content they create.

Tunji Bello, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of the FCCPC, said the commission would conduct a transparent and evidence-based investigation while giving all affected parties the opportunity to present their positions.

He stressed that the inquiry should not be interpreted as a presumption of wrongdoing but as a fact-finding exercise aimed at establishing whether any company has engaged in conduct that distorts competition or infringes on the rights of Nigerian publishers.

Bello added that the commission would determine whether the practices under review amount to violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, or any other applicable legislation.

The investigation is also expected to examine issues surrounding market dominance, the commercial use of copyrighted news materials and the ability of Nigerian media organisations to negotiate fair licensing agreements with global digital platforms.

The development places Nigeria among a growing number of countries reviewing the relationship between technology companies and the media industry, as governments seek to ensure that publishers receive fair compensation for journalism that generates value across digital platforms.

If the allegations are established, the outcome of the investigation could significantly influence the regulation of digital platforms, artificial intelligence and media rights in Nigeria’s evolving digital economy.