The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has imposed a hefty N766,242,500 fine on Multichoice Nigeria for breaching provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act). The penalty follows a year-long investigation into the pay-TV giant’s data handling practices.
NDPC’s Head of Legal, Enforcement & Regulations, Babatunde Bamigboye, revealed in a Sunday statement that the probe was initiated in Q2 2024 over concerns about subscriber privacy violations.
“NDPC found, among others, that Multichoice violated the data privacy rights of subscribers and their friends who are not necessarily subscribers,” Bamigboye stated.
The investigation uncovered multiple serious infractions, including unlawful cross-border transfer of Nigerian users’ personal data and excessively intrusive data collection practices that were deemed unfair, unnecessary and disproportionate. These violations directly contravene constitutional privacy rights protected under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution.
The Commission strongly condemned Multichoice’s practices as “a grave affront to fundamental right to privacy,” while emphasizing Nigeria’s sovereign right to protect citizens’ data under both international treaties and domestic laws, noting these protections have critical implications for the rule of law, national security and economic growth.
Despite being directed to implement corrective measures, Multichoice’s remediation efforts were found unsatisfactory. “For want of cooperation, the Commission has directed Multichoice to pay N766,242,500 for violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act,” the NDPC announced in its official statement.
In a related development, NDPC National Commissioner Dr. Vincent Olatunji has ordered expanded investigations into all Multichoice data collection channels across Nigeria. He issued a stern warning that any outlet found processing personal data in violation of the NDP Act would face penalties under the legislation.
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