The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, has imposed a fine of N766,242,500 on Multichoice Nigeria for breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act, citing violations of subscribers’ privacy rights and the unlawful transfer of citizens’ personal data across borders.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations at NDPC, Babatunde Bamigboye, said the sanction followed an investigation launched in the second quarter of 2024 after allegations surfaced regarding the company’s intrusive data processing activities.
“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,” the country’s data regulator said.
According to the NDPC, the probe uncovered multiple breaches, including the unauthorised processing of personal data belonging to both subscribers and individuals who were not Multichoice customers.