Google has said it will cooperate with Nigerian authorities following the Federal Government’s decision to investigate the activities of major technology companies over alleged anti-competitive practices and the use of news content.
The company made the commitment after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) announced an inquiry into concerns involving global technology firms and generative artificial intelligence platforms operating in Nigeria.
Responding to the development, a Google spokesperson stated that the company remains dedicated to supporting Nigeria’s digital economy and the country’s media and creative industries.
According to the spokesperson, Google is prepared to work closely with the FCCPC throughout the investigation while demonstrating the benefits its products, services and partnerships provide to Nigerian users, businesses and publishers.
The investigation follows a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who instructed the FCCPC to examine complaints submitted by the Nigerian Press Organisation, representing newspaper owners, journalists, broadcasters and online media publishers.
The organisation raised concerns over the increasing influence of global technology companies, alleging that practices such as content scraping, artificial intelligence training and digital content distribution could negatively affect the financial sustainability of Nigeria’s media industry.
The FCCPC said the investigation will determine whether the activities of major technology companies, including Alphabet, Meta and X, violate Nigeria’s competition laws or result in unfair market practices.
The commission will also examine allegations involving the unauthorised collection, use and commercial exploitation of copyrighted journalistic content for the training and development of artificial intelligence systems.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, stated that the investigation would be conducted fairly, independently and based on available evidence, stressing that the exercise should not be interpreted as a finding of wrongdoing against any company.
He added that all organisations involved would be given the opportunity to present their positions before any regulatory decisions are made.
Google’s response reflects its willingness to engage with Nigerian regulators as the country increases oversight of the role played by global technology companies in its digital economy and media sector.
The investigation comes at a time when several countries are reviewing how technology platforms use news content and whether publishers should receive compensation when their content contributes to online search services, digital advertising and artificial intelligence development.
The outcome of the Nigerian inquiry is expected to influence future policies governing the relationship between technology companies, media organisations and digital content creators.
