Meta threatens to shut access to Facebook, Instagram in Nigeria over $290m fines

Meta has warned it may shut down Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria following over $290 million in fines and what it calls “unrealistic” regulatory demands from Nigerian authorities.

The social media giant, which also owns WhatsApp, said it could be forced to withdraw its platforms 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) fined Meta $220 million for alleged anti-competitive conduct.

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The Advertising Regulatory Council imposed a $37.5 million penalty for unauthorized ads, while the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) fined the company $32.8 million for breaching data privacy laws.

Meta expressed particular concern over the NDPC’s requirement that it obtain prior approval before transferring personal data outside Nigeria—something Meta called “unrealistic.”

The agency also mandated the creation of educational content on data privacy risks, in collaboration with government-approved bodies, which Meta argued is unworkable and based on a flawed interpretation of privacy laws. The federal high court has given Meta until the end of June to pay the fines.