FCCPC holds Google accountable, proposes partnership with US law enforcement agencies

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has accused Google of the inability to trace the proprietors of some defaulting online money lending banks over consumer rights and violations.

This indictment comes in,  2 weeks after the commission had ordered Google and Apple to implement the withdrawal of these money lending applications from their stores where evidence of inappropriate conduct or use of the application in infringement of the rights of consumers has been created.

This was disclosed by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Mr. Babtunde Irukera during his speech presentation at a collaborative engagement with journalists on Thursday in Lagos.

Irukera explained that he deemed the development a potential threat to the key national interest, expanding that once Google uses its play store as a platform for that type of app to regulate, there is a problem.

Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC insists on holding Google accountable

Irukera said, “No company, no matter what advantage they bring should have that prerogative or opportunity of being that anonymous.

“And that is the situation we are addressing now. So, we must carry the enormous ones who are bringing about a tonne of money from our citizens accountable.

“If we can hold them accountable and they become liable for that manner of conduct, then we can cascade down and we can speak to Instagram per adventure anyone goes to sell stuff on their platform, there must be verified the information available.

“You cannot give such platforms, generate your money and stare the other way while people who come on that platform manipulate people, leaving them stuck.

“There has to be a mutual ground for everyone. In the lack of that, even your business itself is manipulated. If you are not the exploiter, you are at least conceding the strategic platform for manipulators to manipulate people"

FCCPC is set to co-operate with law enforcement agencies in the United States on this.

Irukera asserted that it is easier to hold Google accountable for those people behind the online money lenders.

He said the commission might require to operate with law enforcement in the United States, to get them to come up with the data needed to bring those behind the digital lenders.

The FCCPC boss said, “We have our partners there and we will use our partners to explain to Google that you are not welcome in this country if we cannot find you; that a regulator cannot confront you when your platform is used to manipulate people

“No! You are not allowed. You are unwelcomed if your platform can be used to manipulate the people and the regulator could not prohibit that exploitation.

“Therefore, you are unwelcomed. And I have no apologies for asserting that about Google.”

Inability to contact Google

Irukera expressed frustration over the incapability of the board to make contact with Google while attempting to remove apps from the Google Store.

He went on to say, “I find that greatly offensive and humiliating that a corporation the size and magnitude of Google, that you are scarcely be available when needed.

It is a great height of absolute irresponsibility for a corporation with a brand and an inscription like Google and so I plan to hold Google accountable.’’

In case you missed it

Remember that on March 11, the Federal Government, in a raid via its joint committee investigating rights violations and illegal practices closed some unlawful online money loaning banks for not registering with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and engaging in activities against the rights of Nigerian consumers.

These online banks indicted interest rates that violate the ethics of how lending is done and was entangled in naming and shaming which is an infringement of people’s privacy pertaining to how these lenders repay loans, among other violations.

The lending corporations offer short-term loans to assist subscribers to meet pressing needs but resort to amateurish standards of harassment, cyberbullying, and infringement of data privacy of their customers who may have defaulted on loan reimbursement.

Some of the affected online money lending banks comprise; GoCash, Okash, EasyCredit, Kashkash, Speedy Choice, and  Easy Moni.