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Google has expressed its willingness to engage constructively with Nigerian regulators following the Federal Government’s decision to investigate major global technology companies over allegations of anti-competitive practices, unauthorised use of news content and concerns surrounding artificial intelligence. The company said it remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s digital economy and will cooperate with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) throughout the investigation.
The probe was initiated after President Bola Tinubu directed the FCCPC to examine complaints submitted by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which represents newspaper proprietors, broadcasters, journalists and online publishers. The investigation will assess whether the activities of companies including Google’s parent company Alphabet, Meta, X and several AI platforms violate Nigeria’s competition laws or involve the unauthorised use of copyrighted journalistic content for artificial intelligence training and commercial purposes. FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman Tunji Bello said the inquiry would be transparent, evidence-based and would give all affected parties an opportunity to present their positions before any conclusions are reached.
Responding to the development, a Google spokesperson said the company values its partnerships with Nigerian publishers, businesses and users, adding that it looks forward to constructive discussions with the FCCPC. The outcome of the investigation is expected to influence Nigeria’s future regulatory framework for digital platforms, AI technologies and the relationship between global technology firms and the country’s media industry.
