TECH: NDPC Fines MultiChoice N766m for ‘Violating Privacy of Subscribers’

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

In a statement on Sunday, signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, NDPC’s head, legal, enforcement and regulations, the commission said the penalty was a result of an investigation which commenced in the second quarter of 2024.

NDPC said it found MultiChoice allegedly violated the Nigeria Data Protection (NDP) Act after investigating suspected breaches of privacy rights of the company’s subscribers and 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,” the regulator said.

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

“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.

SOURCE: THE CABLE NEWS