NDPC fines MultiChoice N766m for privacy violation

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has fined MultiChoice Nigeria, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, N766.24 million for violating the privacy of subscribers and their friends.

This was disclosed in a release signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, NDPC’s head, legal, enforcement and regulations, where the commission said the penalty was a result of an investigation which commenced in the second quarter of 2024.

According to NDPC, MultiChoice allegedly violated the Nigeria Data Protection (NDP) Act after investigating suspected breaches of the privacy rights of the company’s subscribers and illegal cross-border transfer of personal data of Nigerians.

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“For want of cooperation, the Commission has directed Multichoice to pay N766,242,500 for violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act,” it said.

According to the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, its national commissioner, has directed that all outlets through which MultiChoice is collecting personal data of Nigerian citizens should be investigated for non-compliance.

He added that any outlet that processes personal data in violation of the NDP Act is liable to a penalty under the Act.

“NDPC found, among others, that Multichoice violated the data privacy rights of subscribers and their friends who are not necessarily subscribers,” the regulator said.

“The Commission also found that Multichoice carries out illegal cross-border transfer of personal data relating to data subjects in Nigeria.

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The depth of data processing by Multichoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary and disproportionate. 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, it stated.

“Nigeria is entitled to protect her citizens, and data sovereignty under both international and extant municipal laws – as these have far-reaching implications for rule of law, national security and economic growth.

“In line with its standard remediation procedure, the Commission directed Multichoice to carry out appropriate remedial measures. However, the Commission found the measures undertaken by Multichoice in this regard unsatisfactory,” it added.