Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, has warned it may block access to both platforms in Nigeria following regulatory fines totalling over $290 million. The fines were imposed after Nigerian authorities accused the tech firm of breaching multiple national laws, including data privacy and advertising regulations.
According to a report by Leadership News, Meta attempted to challenge the penalties in court but lost its case at the Abuja High Court. The company has now been ordered to pay the full amount by the end of June.
Three government agencies were involved in the sanctions. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) issued a $220 million fine for what it described as anti-competitive practices, while the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) fined Meta $37.5 million for unauthorized advertising content. The Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) added another $32.8 million penalty over alleged violations of privacy laws.
Meta disputes the allegations, especially those from the data protection authority. The company argued in court that the NDPC misunderstood how its data systems work and called the demand to obtain prior user consent before transferring data outside Nigeria “unrealistic.”
The NDPC’s investigation found that Meta failed to meet required standards in handling user data. As part of the conditions set by the commission, Meta has also been instructed to publish educational videos created with approved organizations to help Nigerian users understand the dangers of unfair data processing.
Adamu Abdullahi, CEO of the FCCPC, said, “Our joint investigation revealed invasive practices against Nigerian data subjects and consumers.”
Although Meta also owns WhatsApp, the messaging app is not included in the planned service restrictions. Facebook continues to be one of the most used platforms in Nigeria, playing a central role in communication and business for millions across the country.
Article updated 6 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
