Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has indicated that it may be forced to cease its services in Nigeria amidst escalating fines and regulatory requirements that it deems excessive. Last year, the company was hit with penalties totaling over $290 million by three Nigerian regulatory bodies for various violations. A recent court ruling in Abuja, which Meta attempted to contest, did not favor the tech giant, leaving them with a court-ordered deadline to settle the fines by the end of June. The loss of these platforms would significantly impact millions of Nigerian users, who rely on them for communication and business activities.
Meta on the Brink: Facebook and Instagram Access in Nigeria at Risk
Meta on the Brink: Facebook and Instagram Access in Nigeria at Risk
Meta warns of potential shutdown of Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria due to massive fines and stringent regulatory demands imposed by local authorities.
The article text:
Meta has threatened to cut off access to Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria due to substantial fines and what it terms "unrealistic" regulatory requirements from Nigerian authorities. The company, which oversees some of the world’s leading social media platforms, faces fines totaling more than $290 million (£218 million) after three Nigerian regulatory agencies found it in violation of various laws over the past year.
In a legal recent submission to a federal high court in Abuja, Meta expressed concerns that it may be forced to shut down services to mitigate the risk of enforcement actions stemming from these fines. It has been given until the end of June to pay the penalties. The company did not mention WhatsApp, another of its platforms.
The fines were imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which levied a hefty $220 million fine due to alleged anti-competitive practices; the advertising regulator, which fined Meta $37.5 million for unapproved advertising practices; and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which accused Meta of violating data privacy laws and imposed a fine of $32.8 million.
FCCPC Chief Executive Officer Adamu Abdullahi pointed to investigations carried out in cooperation with the NDPC between May 2021 and December 2023 as the basis for these fines, although specific details regarding the invasive practices were not disclosed.
Meta's court submissions highlighted their "primary concern" regarding the NDPC's demands, which they claim misinterpret data privacy laws. The commission has requested that Meta seek prior approval for any personal data transfers outside Nigeria—a requirement Meta has labeled as unrealistic. Additional demands included creating educational content related to data privacy risks in collaboration with government-approved educational institutions, which the company argues are also unfeasible.
As Facebook is the dominant social media platform in Nigeria, relied upon by tens of millions for daily interactions and business activities, the ramifications of a potential shutdown could be profound. The BBC has reached out to Meta for further comment on its plans moving forward, but no response has been received as of yet.
Meta has threatened to cut off access to Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria due to substantial fines and what it terms "unrealistic" regulatory requirements from Nigerian authorities. The company, which oversees some of the world’s leading social media platforms, faces fines totaling more than $290 million (£218 million) after three Nigerian regulatory agencies found it in violation of various laws over the past year.
In a legal recent submission to a federal high court in Abuja, Meta expressed concerns that it may be forced to shut down services to mitigate the risk of enforcement actions stemming from these fines. It has been given until the end of June to pay the penalties. The company did not mention WhatsApp, another of its platforms.
The fines were imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which levied a hefty $220 million fine due to alleged anti-competitive practices; the advertising regulator, which fined Meta $37.5 million for unapproved advertising practices; and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which accused Meta of violating data privacy laws and imposed a fine of $32.8 million.
FCCPC Chief Executive Officer Adamu Abdullahi pointed to investigations carried out in cooperation with the NDPC between May 2021 and December 2023 as the basis for these fines, although specific details regarding the invasive practices were not disclosed.
Meta's court submissions highlighted their "primary concern" regarding the NDPC's demands, which they claim misinterpret data privacy laws. The commission has requested that Meta seek prior approval for any personal data transfers outside Nigeria—a requirement Meta has labeled as unrealistic. Additional demands included creating educational content related to data privacy risks in collaboration with government-approved educational institutions, which the company argues are also unfeasible.
As Facebook is the dominant social media platform in Nigeria, relied upon by tens of millions for daily interactions and business activities, the ramifications of a potential shutdown could be profound. The BBC has reached out to Meta for further comment on its plans moving forward, but no response has been received as of yet.
