Nigeria’s $290 M Privacy Penalties Could Force Meta to Shut Down Its Apps
Meta says it may block Nigerians from using Facebook and Instagram after three federal watchdogs hit the U.S. tech giant with penalties topping $290 million. The fines—$220 million for alleged anti-competitive conduct, $37.5 million for unauthorized adverts and $32.8 million for privacy breaches—must be paid by the end of June, according to an Abuja high-court order Meta failed to overturn.
Court filings show Meta’s biggest dispute is with Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission, which demands prior government approval before any personal data leave the country and requires the firm to publish state-approved educational videos on privacy risks. Meta calls those rules “unrealistic” and warns it could “shut down Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria” to avoid harsher enforcement. WhatsApp was not mentioned.
Facebook is Nigeria’s most-used social platform and a lifeline for countless small e-commerce sellers; regulators say probes from 2021-23 revealed “invasive practices” that harm consumers. Critics fear a blackout would upend communication and business, while Meta’s push-back underscores rising tension between global tech firms and countries imposing stringent data-sovereignty laws.
Disclosure: This list is intended as an informational resource and is based on independent research and publicly available information. It does not imply that these businesses are the absolute best in their category. Learn more here.
This article may contain commission-based affiliate links. Learn more on our Privacy Policy page.
