Meta Threatens To Shut Down Facebook And Instagram In Nigeria
Meta is threatening to shut down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria after losing a court appeal over $290 million in fines tied to regulatory and data privacy violations, the BBC reports.
$290M in fines
The showdown began in 2021 when Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) launched an investigation into WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy.
The agency, along with the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the national advertising regulator, accused Meta of multiple infractions. These include sharing user data without authorization, discriminating against Nigerian users compared to other markets, and forcing unfair privacy policies through its dominant market position.
In July 2024, Meta was fined $220 million by the FCCPC, $37.5 million by the advertising regulator, and $32.8 million by the NDPC, bringing the total to over $290 million. Meta appealed the decision, but the Federal High Court in Abuja upheld the penalties last month. Meta now has until the end of June 2025 to pay up.
Meta Pushes Back
In court filings, Meta called the fines excessive and the NDPC’s requirements “unrealistic.” One major point of contention is a rule requiring Meta to seek prior approval before transferring any Nigerian user data abroad. The NDPC also asked Meta to provide an icon linking to educational videos created in collaboration with local organizations to inform users about the risks of data misuse. Meta says this demand is unfeasible and misinterprets data privacy law.
Meta warned that it “may be forced to effectively shut down” Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria to mitigate the risk of enforcement actions. WhatsApp was not included in this threat, although it is widely used in the country.
Implications for Users and Businesses
Nigeria is a significant user base for Meta’s platforms. Facebook is Nigeria’s most-used social platform, with over 51 million users as of May 2024, according to Napoleoncat data. Instagram has around 12.6 million users, and WhatsApp—used by about 51 million Nigerians—ranks Nigeria as its 10th largest market globally.
Facebook and Instagram are critical tools for Nigerian content creators, small businesses, news dissemination, and civic engagement. User pressure could sway regulators to pay the fine though experts told Rest of World that Meta isn’t making enough money in Nigeria to justify the amount. Many Nigerians may also resort to VPNs to maintain access, as they did during the 2021 Twitter ban.
A Broader Power Struggle
Nigeria’s regulators have dismissed Meta’s threat as “a calculated move aimed at inducing negative public reaction.” The government is firm on asserting its regulatory authority over global tech companies operating within its jurisdiction.
Nigeria is setting a precedent as one of Meta’s biggest markets in Africa. This standoff not only tests Meta’s willingness to comply with local governance but also sets a precedent for how other African countries may regulate foreign tech giants.
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