NDPC Imposes ₦766m Fine on MultiChoice Over Data Privacy Breach
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has imposed a hefty fine of ₦766,242,500 on MultiChoice Nigeria for violating the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).
This development was announced in Abuja through an official statement issued by Mr. Babatunde Bamigboye, Head of Legal, Enforcement, and Regulations at the NDPC.
Bamigboye revealed that the fine came after an investigation conducted in the second quarter of 2024, prompted by reports of infringements on subscribers’ data privacy and the unauthorized cross-border transfer of personal information belonging to Nigerian citizens.
“NDPC’s findings established that MultiChoice breached the privacy rights of its subscribers as well as third parties associated with them, even where those individuals were not direct subscribers,” Bamigboye explained.
The Commission’s investigation further uncovered that MultiChoice transferred the personal data of Nigerian residents outside the country without appropriate authorization — a clear violation of national data protection provisions.
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According to the them , the depth of personal data processing by MultiChoice was found to be intrusive, excessive, and unjustified, posing a serious threat to the constitutional right to privacy, as guaranteed under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Bamigboye stressed that Nigeria has both international and domestic legal responsibilities to safeguard the data of its citizens, as any breach could have significant consequences for national security, economic stability, and the rule of law.
During the investigation, they directed MultiChoice to implement corrective actions in line with established remediation protocols under the NDPA. However, the measures taken by the company were deemed inadequate.
Due to a lack of satisfactory compliance, the Commission has enforced a monetary penalty of ₦766,242,500 on MultiChoice Nigeria for its data protection breaches,” Bamigboye stated.
Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, reiterated the Commission’s mandate to uphold lawful data processing practices and protect the data rights of Nigerians, emphasizing that they operates based on recognized legal grounds such as consent, contractual necessity, and legal obligations.
