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Toyota was fined $1.2b in 2014 for deliberately concealing safety defects - something that was linked to actual deaths. It was the biggest fine ever handed down to a car maker by US courts.

I don't see how $5.2b is justifiable in this case.

(This is of course besides the whole issue of whether or not people should be forced to divulge things like their phone numbers to government in the first place...)

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The justice system in Nigeria (if it exists…) is not bound by US precedent. Further, deliberately concealing safety defects is usually at most (grossly) negligent manslaughter, not a active participation in an abduction. In this particular case, it was not even just one abduction but a whole series of criminal activities supported by MTN.

Imagine the uproar if Toyota had not concealed safety defects but was selling cars to ISIS operating somewhere in the United States despite an explicit ban to stop doing that.

(Naturally, but whether or not the law is just/fair/appropriate is irrelevant to the question of whether a violation of that law carries an acceptable fine, in particular when the comparison to natural persons is easily available.)

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