Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to urgently investigate allegations that Google, Meta (Facebook), Apple, Microsoft (Bing), X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Amazon, and YouTube are using opaque algorithms and market dominance to undermine Nigerian media, businesses, and citizens’ rights.

SERAP urged the FCCPC to take measures necessary to urgently prevent further unfair market practices, algorithmic influence, consumer harm and abuses of media freedom, freedom of expression, privacy, and access to information and ensure compliance with Nigerian laws and international standards.

The body also urged the FCCPC to convene a public hearing into the allegations of algorithmic discrimination, market dominance, data exploitation, and consumer harm involving the listed social media.

In a complaint at the weekend, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said big technology companies operated with enormous influence over Nigeria’s digital economy and information ecosystem, yet they often escaped accountability for the harms they cause.

SERAP said opaque algorithms, offshore revenue extraction, and hidden data practices allow the platforms to shape public discourse and market competition without transparency or meaningful oversight.

In the complaint addressed to the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, SERAP emphasised that millions of Nigerians rely on the platforms for news, information and business opportunities.

“Dominant digital platforms are acting as private gatekeepers of Nigeria’s information and business ecosystem. Their opaque algorithms and market dominance are not just economic issues—they are human rights issues that threaten media plurality, consumer protection, and privacy, and the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.

“The FCCPC ought to exercise its statutory mandate to ensure Nigerians’ rights to privacy, media freedom, fair competition, and democratic integrity. Should the FCCPC fail to act promptly, SERAP will consider all appropriate legal actions to compel regulatory intervention in the public interest.

“Investigations by the South African Competition Commission into Google revealed systematic bias against local media content, leading to remedies, including algorithmic transparency, compliance monitoring, and monetary redress,” SERAP said.

The organisation maintained that the FCCPC should take similar action to protect Nigerian media, businesses, and citizens’ rights, and that SERAP would be available to provide evidence, expert analysis, and recommendations to assist the commission’s inquiry.

Recall that the Federal High Court upheld the FCCPC’s investigations into telecom pricing and competition conduct, thus stressing the commission’s mandate under Sections 17 and 18 of the FCCPA.