Meta Threatens to Shut Down Facebook, Instagram in Nigeria Over $220M Fine

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has issued a stark warning that it may be forced to shut down its services in Nigeria, citing increasing regulatory pressures and what it describes as “unrealistic” government demands.

This warning comes in the wake of a hefty $220 million fine levied by Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for alleged data privacy violations.

The fine stems from a 38-month investigation conducted alongside the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) into Meta’s data practices, including those of its messaging platform WhatsApp.

Despite the ruling upholding the fine on April 25, Meta is set to challenge it in court and has until the end of June to comply.

In its filing, Meta stressed that it may be forced to halt Facebook and Instagram operations in Nigeria as a last resort to avoid further enforcement actions. The company did not mention WhatsApp in its court documents.

Meta’s primary concern is the NDPC, which it accuses of misinterpreting Nigerian data protection laws. Along with the FCCPC fine, the NDPC has imposed an additional $32.8 million penalty on Meta for alleged privacy breaches.

Another regulatory body, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), has fined Meta $37.5 million for unapproved advertisements.

One of the key demands from Nigerian regulators includes requiring Meta to obtain prior approval before transferring Nigerian user data abroad—something Meta deems “unrealistic.” The NDPC has also ordered Meta to create educational content on data privacy risks, further adding to the platform’s regulatory burdens.

Meta has pushed back against these regulations, claiming that Nigerian authorities are misapplying the country’s data laws, while the FCCPC asserts that the fines reflect the results of a thorough investigation conducted between May 2021 and December 2023.