Google has pledged to cooperate with Nigerian regulators following the Federal Government’s decision to investigate the operations of major global technology companies over concerns ranging from competition practices to the use of copyrighted news content in artificial intelligence systems.
The technology giant said it remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s growing digital economy and will work closely with authorities as the investigation progresses.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, a Google spokesperson reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the country’s media and creative industries, noting that it intends to engage constructively with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
“We remain committed to Nigeria and the success of its news and creative ecosystem. We will engage constructively with the FCCPC to support the process and demonstrate the value our products and partnerships bring to Nigerian users, publishers and businesses,” the spokesperson said.
The response follows the FCCPC’s announcement of a wide-ranging inquiry into the activities of major technology firms and generative artificial intelligence platforms operating in Nigeria.
The investigation was initiated after President Bola Tinubu directed the commission to examine complaints submitted by the Nigerian Press Organisation, an umbrella body representing newspaper publishers, journalists, broadcasters and digital news platforms.
Media stakeholders have expressed growing concerns over the increasing influence of global technology companies, arguing that practices such as automated content scraping, AI model training using journalistic materials and digital content distribution could threaten the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s news industry.
According to the FCCPC, the inquiry will assess whether the operations of companies including Google’s parent company, Alphabet, Meta and X comply with Nigeria’s competition laws and whether their business practices create unfair advantages within the country’s digital marketplace.
A major aspect of the investigation will focus on allegations that copyrighted news content may have been collected, processed or commercially utilised without authorisation in the development and training of artificial intelligence models.
The commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, said the exercise would be conducted through a transparent, evidence-driven process, emphasising that the investigation should not be interpreted as a finding of wrongdoing against any company.
He added that all organisations involved would be given adequate opportunities to provide information and respond to the issues raised before any regulatory decisions are made.
Google’s willingness to participate in the process reflects a broader trend of engagement between governments and major technology companies as regulators worldwide seek to define clearer rules around artificial intelligence, digital competition and the use of online content.
The Nigerian investigation comes at a time when several countries are introducing new regulatory frameworks requiring technology platforms to negotiate compensation agreements with news publishers whose content contributes to online search services, digital advertising ecosystems and AI development.
Industry analysts believe the outcome of the FCCPC’s inquiry could influence the future of digital platform regulation in Nigeria, particularly in areas involving AI governance, publisher compensation, competition policy and the relationship between technology companies and local content creators.
As the country’s digital economy continues to expand, the findings of the investigation may help shape how global technology platforms operate within Nigeria while balancing innovation with the protection of intellectual property and fair market competition.
