Meta has warned it may shut down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria, citing “unrealistic” regulatory demands and over $290 million in fines imposed by Nigerian authorities.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the advertising regulator, and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) fined Meta for anti-competitive practices, unauthorized advertising, and privacy violations. In court documents, Meta said, “The applicant may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in order to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures.”
The federal high court in Abuja upheld the fines and gave Meta until June to comply. Meta criticized the NDPC for “misinterpreting” privacy laws and making unworkable demands on data handling.