Meta Considers Shutting Down Facebook in Nigeria Amid Regulatory Conflict

Meta faces significant challenges as it grapples with Nigerian regulatory demands and fines, which could result in a complete shutdown of its social media services in the country.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is threatening to terminate services in Nigeria following significant regulatory challenges. The company has faced fines exceeding $290 million from three Nigerian regulatory agencies, which it deems "unrealistic." These fines were imposed for various violations, including alleged anti-competitive practices and breaches of data privacy laws.

Last year, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) fined Meta $220 million, while the Advertising Regulatory Authority charged $37.5 million for unapproved marketing practices. Another fine of $32.8 million was slapped by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) over supposed data privacy infractions. Meta was unable to overturn these fines in a recent federal high court attempt in Abuja.

In its court declaration, Meta emphasized potential shutdowns of Facebook and Instagram services if compliance with costly fines is not achievable. Facebook has a massive user base in Nigeria, serving as a critical platform for communication, news sharing, and supporting numerous small businesses.

The NDPC has levied demands that Meta find prior permission before relocating any personal data outside Nigeria, which the company argues is impractical. They are also required to provide educational content about data risks, developed in coordination with local educational institutions and NGOs, which Meta views as unfeasible.

As of now, the court has granted Meta until the end of June to resolve these ongoing sanctions. While the BBC has reached out for Meta’s future plans, no response has been received. As these developments unfold, the fate of millions of Nigerian users who rely on these platforms hangs in the balance.