Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is facing a legal battle in Nigeria over its alleged violation of the country’s advertising laws. The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has sued Meta for N30 billion ($70 million), accusing the company of publishing unvetted ads on its platforms without the regulator’s approval.
According to ARCON, Meta’s actions are illegal and unlawful and a breach of the Nigerian advertising law, which requires all ads to be screened and approved by the agency before exposure. ARCON claims that Meta has caused the Nigerian government to lose revenue by displaying unscreened ads to the Nigerian market.
The lawsuit, which was filed in October 2023, will be heard by the Federal High Court in Abuja. ARCON said it had obtained permission from the court to serve Meta with a summons at its corporate headquarters in the US. The agency said it resorted to this option after Meta claimed it had no physical office in Nigeria.
ARCON’s Director-General, Olalekan Fadolapo, told The PUNCH newspaper that the agency was determined to use all legal means to sanitize the Nigerian advertising space. He said Meta was showing indecent and unethical ads to the Nigerian audience, violating the country’s territorial sovereignty. He also said Meta was obliged to abide by Nigerian laws if it did business in Nigeria.
This is not the first time Meta has faced legal challenges in Nigeria. In June 2022, the Nigerian government suspended Twitter, another social media platform, for allegedly undermining the country’s corporate existence. The government also announced plans to take Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s founder and CEO, to court over a breach of Nigerian censorship laws.
Meta has not commented on the lawsuit, but a spokesperson said the company does not comment on ongoing legal claims. Meta has previously said that it supports freedom of expression and respects local laws in its operating countries.
The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for Meta and other digital platforms that rely on online advertising for their revenue. It could also affect the millions of Nigerians who use social media for communication, entertainment, and information.
However, some experts have expressed optimism that the lawsuit could lead to a constructive dialogue between Meta and the Nigerian authorities on how to regulate online advertising to balance business interests and social responsibility.
Source: Business Insider Africa
