Nigeria fines MultiChoice N766m for data privacy violations<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has fined MultiChoice Nigeria N766,242,500 for breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).<\/p>\n
Mr. Babatunde Bamigboye, the Commission\u2019s Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.<\/p>\n
According to him, the fine followed an investigation launched in the second quarter of 2024 into suspected violations of subscribers\u2019 privacy rights and the unlawful cross-border transfer of Nigerians\u2019 personal data.<\/p>\n
\u201cNDPC found, among other things, that MultiChoice violated the data privacy rights of its subscribers and individuals associated with them who are not necessarily subscribers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Commission also discovered that MultiChoice engaged in the illegal cross-border transfer of personal data belonging to Nigerian data subjects.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe depth of data processing by Multichoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary and disproportionate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a grave affront to fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,\u201d Bamigboye said.<\/p>\n
According to him, Nigeria is entitled to protect her citizens and data sovereignty under both international and extant municipal laws as these have far-reaching implication for rule of law, national security and economic growth.<\/p>\n
Bamigboye added that in the process of the investigation, in line with the NDPA standard remediation procedure, the commission directed Multichoice to carry out appropriate remedial measures.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, the Commission found the measures undertaken by Multichoice in this regard unsatisfactory.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor want of cooperation, the Commission has directed Multichoice to pay N766,242,500 for violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act.l,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The NDPC\u2019s National Commissioner, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, was also quoted as directing that all channels through which Multichoice collects the personal data of Nigerian citizens be investigated for non-compliance.<\/p>\n
According to him, any outlet that processes personal data in violation of the NDPA is liable to penalty under the Act.<\/p>\n
NDPC is a public institution that processes data in furtherance of its mandate as Nigeria\u2019s Data Protection Authority and relies on recognized lawful bases for data processing such as consent, legal obligation and contract.(NAN, rejigged)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nigeria fines MultiChoice N766m for data privacy violations The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has fined MultiChoice Nigeria N766,242,500 for breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA). Mr. Babatunde Bamigboye, the Commission\u2019s Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja. According to him, the fine followed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":146640,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4,18,20],"tags":[1660,1571,1502,157],"class_list":{"0":"post-146908","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"category-entertainment","9":"category-news","10":"category-the-nation","11":"tag-babatunde-bamigboye","12":"tag-fine","13":"tag-multichoice","14":"tag-nigeria"},"yoast_head":"\n