LAGOS — Tech giant Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has warned it may be forced to shut down Facebook and Instagram operations in Nigeria due to increasing regulatory pressure and what it describes as “unrealistic” government demands.
The warning came through a court filing obtained by the BBC, as Meta battles a $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over alleged data privacy violations. The penalty stems from a 38-month investigation jointly conducted by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), focusing on the data handling practices of Meta and WhatsApp.
Despite a ruling on April 25 by the competition and consumer protection tribunal upholding the fine, Meta has vowed to appeal and has until the end of June to comply.
In its court submission, Meta stated that to “mitigate the risk of enforcement measures,” it may be compelled to “effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria.” The company notably did not mention WhatsApp in its statement.
Meta’s primary contention lies with the NDPC, which it accuses of misinterpreting Nigeria’s data protection laws. In addition to the FCCPC’s $220 million fine, the NDPC has issued a separate $32.8 million penalty for privacy breaches, while the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) imposed a $37.5 million fine over alleged unapproved advertising content.
One of the key regulatory demands includes requiring Meta to seek prior approval before transferring Nigerian users’ data abroad—a move the company labels as “unrealistic.” Another directive mandates the creation and prominent display of educational videos on data privacy risks, co-produced with approved institutions and non-profits.
Meta has described the directives as “unworkable,” accusing Nigerian authorities of misinterpreting their own data protection framework.
The FCCPC, however, insists that the fines resulted from an extensive investigation conducted from May 2021 to December 2023 in collaboration with the NDPC.
As tensions escalate, Nigeria’s digital landscape faces growing uncertainty, with millions of users potentially affected should Meta follow through with its threat.
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