By OBSERVERS TIMES .
Social media giant Meta has warned it may be forced to shut down its Facebook and Instagram platforms in Nigeria due to over $290 million in cumulative fines and what it deems “unrealistic” regulatory demands from Nigerian authorities.
The parent company of WhatsApp stated it faces potential withdrawal to avoid enforcement actions after a federal high court in Abuja upheld fines issued by three Nigerian agencies in 2023.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) levied a $220 million fine against Meta for alleged anti-competitive practices. The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) imposed a $37.5 million penalty for unauthorized advertisements, while the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) fined the tech giant $32.8 million for purported breaches of data privacy regulations.
Meta has voiced significant concern particularly regarding the NDPC’s directive requiring prior approval for any transfer of personal data outside Nigeria, labeling this demand “unrealistic.” The NDPC also mandated Meta to develop educational content on data privacy risks in collaboration with government-approved entities, a requirement Meta contends is impractical and based on a misinterpretation of privacy laws.
The federal high court has reportedly given Meta until the end of June to settle the outstanding fines.
