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‘Holding them accountable!’ - Nigeria puts Global North tech giants on notice with landmark $32.8m Meta data privacy settlement

‘Holding them accountable!’ - Nigeria puts Global North tech giants on notice with landmark $32.8m Meta data privacy settlement

"Nigerians hailed the country’s $32.8 million data settlement with Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, as a landmark moment that marks the first time an African nation has compelled a global tech giant to comply with its data protection laws. The fine was imposed by Nigeria's Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in February 2025 for alleged violations of the Nigeria Data Protection Act. "The data controllers domiciled outside the country are also being held accountable in Nigeria," NDPC Legal Enforcement Head Babatunde Bamigboye said on Monday in Lagos. The country's parliament passed the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, which provided a legal framework for the protection of personal data and established the NDPC as the regulatory body to oversee its implementation. "Now there is a law in Nigeria, and there is an independent data protection authority. If there is any breach or any unauthorised use of any personal data in Nigeria, they are after them," NDPC National Commissioner Dr Vincent Olatunji warned. Olatunji said tech companies have been asked to revise and assess their data privacy and protection policies, noting, "We are holding all of them accountable now." Residents voiced concerns over social media platforms collecting their personal data. They said targeted advertising felt intrusive, raising questions about user privacy. "When I was chatting with a friend, and I think that was via messenger on Facebook, and I was telling him about getting a new dining set. And after our discussion, I just saw this thing that popped up about dining sets on my timeline. And I was like, shocked,” said a civil servant. Meta was accused of using Nigerian users' data for behavioural advertising without explicit consent, processing personal data of non-users, failing to file mandatory compliance audits, and transferring user data abroad without authorisation. The settlement is expected to be finalised later this month. According to local media reports, Meta had initially challenged the fine but has now agreed to an out-of-court settlement."

Britney Spears Responds To Allegations Made By Ex-Husband Kevin Federline

Britney Spears Responds To Allegations Made By Ex-Husband Kevin Federline

Britney Spears in 2019 Britney Spears ’ team has responded to allegations made about the singer by her ex-husband Kevin Federline . The Piece Of Me singer and former back-up dancer were married for three years between 2004 and 2007, during which time they had two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James. Earlier this week, the New York Times published an excerpt from Kevin’s upcoming memoir You Thought You Knew which contained allegations about the Grammy winner. In his book, Kevin claims that the former couple’s sons would express fear to him at the prospect of staying at Britney’s house, alleging: “They would awaken sometimes at night to find her standing silently in the doorway, watching them sleep – ’Oh, you’re awake? – with a knife in her hand. Then she’d turn around and pad off without explanation.” A spokesperson for Britney has since issued a statement to Metro , accusing Kevin of “sensationalism” and pointing out that the release of his memoir comes shortly after she was no longer required to pay him child support, as both of their children are now over the age of 18. “With news from Kevin’s book breaking, once again he and others are profiting off her and sadly it comes after child support has ended with Kevin,” the statement read. “All she cares about are her kids, Sean Preston and Jayden James and their well-being during this sensationalism. She detailed her journey in her memoir.” Britney and Kevin legally tied the knot in October 2004, six months after meeting. Two years into their marriage, the pop singer filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, and the pair initially agreed to share joint custody of their sons when their marriage was finally legally terminated the following year. Kevin was later granted sole custody of their two sons, shortly before Britney was placed under the temporary conservatorship of her father, an arrangement which remained in place for over a decade until it was dissolved in 2021 . READ MORE: Britney Spears' Ex-Husband Sam Asghari Reveals Why He’ll Never 'Talk Badly' About Her Britney Spears' Ex-Husband Sam Asghari Shares The 'Weirdest Thing' About Their Marriage Jon M Chu Sets The Record Straight On These Britney Spears Biopic Casting Rumours

'Mercosur is dead’ – Farmers drive tractors through Paris to denounce EU deal with South American bloc

'Mercosur is dead’ – Farmers drive tractors through Paris to denounce EU deal with South American bloc

"Farmers from across France drove their tractors into central Paris on Tuesday in a show of defiance against the proposed EU-Mercosur trade agreement, warning that it would have a 'deadly' impact on food sovereignty and small-scale agriculture. Footage shows tractors driving past the Eiffel Tower, as demonstrators and agricultural associations marched from Les Invalides, chanting slogans and carrying signs reading 'Mercosur is dead' and 'Mercosur betrays our cultures.' The EU-Mercosur deal is a partnership aimed at creating one of the world's largest trade zones between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and eliminating more than 90 percent of tariffs, boosting investment, and deepening political ties with Argentina. Protesters accused the European Commission of pushing forward with the deal despite widespread opposition. “It’s a betrayal. Our products are not protected at all. There are fewer and fewer farmers. We are suffering. We are being suffocated,” said Laurent Chathuant, national secretary of the farmers' union, who travelled from Guadeloupe to join the demonstration. Another union spokesperson, Sylvie from Gers, criticised what she described as the 'financialised economy' driving such policies, arguing that "destroying agriculture means destroying territories, and in many countries, that's how famine and therefore war are caused." Economist Maxime Combes from the Association for International Solidarity (AITEC) said that the agreement still lacked enough support to be ratified, adding that 'the reasons that led the agricultural sector and civil society organisations to urge France to reject the contents of the Mercosur free trade agreement remain unchanged.' The European Commission submitted the draft deal to the 27 EU member states and the European Parliament in early September for eventual approval, while Brussels says it includes 'solid' guarantees for European farmers."