The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has fined Multichoice Nigeria the sum of N766,242,500 (Seven-Hundred-and-Sixty-Six-Million-Two-Hundred-and-Forty-Two-Thousand-Five-Hundred naira).
According to FG, the South Africa company, DSTV violated the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
According to an investigation which commenced in the second quarter of 2024, DSTV breached the privacy rights of Multichoice subscribers and also guilty of illegal cross-border transfer of personal data of Nigerians.
“NDPC found, among others, that Multichoice violated the data privacy rights of subscribers and their friends who are not necessarily subscribers”, NDPC Head, Legal, Enforcement & Regulations, Babatunde Bamigboye, said in a statement on Sunday.
“The depth of data processing by Multichoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary and disproportionate. This is a grave affront to fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“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.”
In view of the foregoing, NDPC National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, has directed that all outlets through which Multichoice is collecting personal data of Nigerian citizens should be investigated for non-compliance.
He said any outlet that processes personal data in violation of the NDP Act is liable to penalty under the Act.