There are increasing worries that Nigerians might lose access to Facebook and Instagram due to substantial fines and “unrealistic” regulatory requirements imposed on parent company Meta by Nigerian authorities, as reported by the BBC.
Meta has been entangled in a legal conflict with three Nigerian regulatory bodies, which last year levied fines amounting to over $290 million (£218 million) for breaching various laws and regulations. Despite efforts to contest these penalties in the federal high court in Abuja, Meta’s attempts were unsuccessful. The court has mandated the company to pay the fines by the end of June.
In court documents, Meta cautioned that it might be compelled to discontinue Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria to evade enforcement actions. Although the company owns WhatsApp, it did not reference the messaging service in its statement concerning the matter.
Facebook, the leading social media platform in Nigeria, supports tens of millions of users for daily communication, news dissemination, and as an essential tool for small businesses. The potential loss of access to the platform could lead to significant social and economic consequences.
The fines originate from three main grievances against Meta:
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) imposed a $220 million fine for alleged anti-competitive practices.
The Nigerian advertising regulator issued a $37.5 million penalty for unauthorized advertising.
The Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) fined Meta $32.8 million for violating data privacy regulations.
Meta, in its legal filings, highlighted its primary concern with the NDPC’s stipulations, particularly the mandate that Meta obtain prior approval before transferring personal data outside Nigeria. The company described this requirement as “unrealistic,” along with other regulatory demands, such as producing educational videos about data privacy risks in partnership with government-approved institutions.
The NDPC’s insistence on these conditions has led Meta to argue that the agency has misunderstood data privacy laws, asserting that the regulations are impractical and could significantly hinder its operations.
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