The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to investigate allegations that major technology companies are undermining Nigerian media, businesses and citizens’ rights through opaque algorithms and market dominance.
In a complaint dated February 28, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP called on the FCCPC to probe Google, Meta (Facebook), Apple, Microsoft (Bing), X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Amazon and YouTube.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Oluwadare on Sunday.
The organisation urged the commission “to take measures necessary to urgently prevent further unfair market practices, algorithmic influence, consumer harm and abuses of media freedom, freedom of expression, privacy, and access to information and ensure compliance with Nigerian laws and international standards.”
SERAP also asked the FCCPC to convene a public hearing into the allegations of algorithmic discrimination, market dominance, data exploitation and consumer harm involving the companies.
In the complaint addressed to the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, SERAP said, “Big technology companies operate with enormous influence over Nigeria’s digital economy and information ecosystem, yet they often escape accountability for the harms they cause.
“Opaque algorithms, offshore revenue extraction, and hidden data practices allow these platforms to shape public discourse and market competition without transparency or meaningful oversight.”
The group said millions of Nigerians rely on the platforms for news, information and business opportunities.
It described dominant digital platforms as “private gatekeepers of Nigeria’s information and business ecosystem.”
“Their opaque algorithms and market dominance are not just economic issues—they are human rights issues that threaten media plurality, consumer protection, and privacy, and the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy,” SERAP said.
It warned that failure by the FCCPC to act promptly would compel the organisation to consider “all appropriate legal actions to compel regulatory intervention in the public interest.”
SERAP cited investigations by the South African Competition Commission into Google, which it said revealed systematic bias against local media content and led to remedies including algorithmic transparency, compliance monitoring and monetary redress.
The organisation alleged that the business models and algorithmic systems operated by the companies were undermining Nigerians’ rights and distorting the country’s digital economy.
“Large-scale collection, retention, and monetisation of Nigerians’ personal and behavioural data — often under complex and unclear consent mechanisms — are reportedly interfering with the right to privacy,” it said.
SERAP expressed concern about the potential impact of the alleged practices on privacy rights, media freedom, business sustainability and the integrity of Nigeria’s forthcoming elections.
It said the allegations, if established, would amount to grave violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), particularly Sections 17 and 18, as well as the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and international human rights standards.
The group maintained that the FCCPC has jurisdiction under Sections 17 and 18 of the FCCPA to investigate and enforce compliance against conduct that substantially prevents, restricts or distorts competition in Nigeria.
According to SERAP, Nigerian media organisations and content creators continue to face algorithmic suppression, revenue diversion to foreign platforms and limited discoverability, resulting in abuses of freedom of expression and access to information.
It added that the cumulative effect of alleged data concentration, opaque content moderation, discriminatory algorithmic ranking and market dominance could substantially distort competition, harm consumers and weaken democratic institutions.
SERAP therefore urged the FCCPC to initiate a full investigation into the alleged conduct, convene a public hearing to gather evidence from affected Nigerians.
The demands read further, “Convene a public hearing to gather evidence from affected Nigerians, including journalists, media organisations, SMEs, content creators, civil society groups, and individual consumers;
“Mandate transparency and equitable treatment of Nigerian content, including disclosure of ranking, recommendation, and advertising algorithms, with quarterly and biannual compliance reporting;
“Ensure remedial measures for harmed media organisations, including the establishment of a compensation fund;
“Take urgent steps to prevent ongoing consumer harm, market distortion, and violations of privacy and freedom of expression;
“Summon persons and requiring production of documents, and applying sanctions against the Respondents as necessary and where competition or consumer and rights protection violations are found;
“Ensuring that the FCCPC retains authority to request additional data as necessary; and
“Grant any additional relief(s) the Commission considers necessary to prevent unfair market practices and ensure compliance with Nigerian competition law.”
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