Instant Messaging platform, WhatsApp, on Saturday said it was applying for a stay of execution of the ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal in favour of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
The organisation’s reaction was contained in a statement sent to the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Lagos State.
It said that it would urgently apply to stay the order and appeal the ruling of Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal.
NAN reports that the reaction from WhatsApp followed the tribunal’s decision on Friday, which upheld the $220 million penalty initially imposed on it by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
The tribunal ordered WhatsApp and its parent company, Meta Platforms Incorporated, to pay a significant penalty of $220 million, along with an additional $35,000 to the FCCPC.
The FCCPC had levied the fine against WhatsApp and Meta for alleged discriminatory data practices within Nigeria.
The tribunal also mandated a payment of $35,000 to the commission as reimbursement for the expenses incurred during its investigation into the social media conglomerate.
Furthermore, the tribunal dismissed the appeal filed by WhatsApp and Meta Platforms Incorporated challenging the $220 million penalty.
“We are urgently applying to stay the order and appeal today’s decision to avoid any impact to users,” WhatsApp said.
The company further emphasised its disagreement with the tribunal’s order, noting that the FCCPC order contained multiple inaccuracies and misrepresented how WhatsApp worked.
Stating its position, the social media conglomerate said: “WhatsApp relies on limited data to run its service and keep users safe and it will be impossible to provide WhatsApp in Nigeria, or globally, without the infrastructure of our parent company, Meta.”
