Multichoice Nigeria has been fined N766,242.500 by the Federal Government.
FG imposed the fine on Multichoice for breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act, following findings that the company violated subscribers’ privacy rights and unlawfully transferred citizens’ personal data across national borders.
The sanction was announced by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in a statement on Sunday.
According to Babatunde Bamigboye, the Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations at NDPC, the fine follows an investigation that began in the second quarter of 2024 after concerns emerged over Multichoice’s data handling practices.
“The depth of data processing by Multichoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary, and disproportionate,” the statement read. “This is a grave affront to the fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The NDPC said the probe revealed multiple violations, including the unauthorised processing of personal data belonging not only to Multichoice subscribers but also to individuals with no customer relationship with the company. It also found that Multichoice had transferred Nigerians’ data abroad without meeting legal requirements.
