Regulatory fines prompt Meta to threaten removal of Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is threatening to suspend its services in Nigeria because of high fines and what it says are “unrealistic” legal requirements from Nigerian authorities.
Last year, three Nigerian regulators fined Meta a total of more than $290 million for alleged violations of various laws and regulations. A recent attempt to challenge these fines at the Federal High Court in Abuja was unsuccessful.
In a lawsuit, the company stated that it might be forced to withdraw Facebook and Instagram from Nigeria to minimise possible enforcement actions. Although Meta also owns WhatsApp, the messaging service was not mentioned in the statement.
The Supreme Court has given Meta until the end of June to pay the fines.
Meta’s main concern lies with the NDPC (Nigeria Data Protection Commission), which accuses the company of misinterpreting data privacy laws. The commission requires prior approval for any transfer of personal data from Nigeria, a condition Meta has called “unrealistic”.
The NDPC also requires Meta to provide an icon that links to educational videos on the risks of data privacy created in collaboration with government-approved institutions and nonprofit organisations. These videos should highlight the dangers of “manipulative and unfair data processing” that can expose Nigerian users to health and financial risks.
Facebook is the most widely used social media platform in Nigeria and is an important means of communication and news source for millions of people. It also plays a crucial role for numerous small businesses operating online in the country.
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