Meta fighting Nigerian fines, warns could shut Facebook, Instagram

AFP | Lagos

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Meta yesterday vowed to fight Nigerian fines for various consumer data violations as the US tech giant reportedly threatened to cut off Facebook and Instagram in Africa’s most populous country.

The social media juggernaut last week lost its latest legal bid when a Nigerian tribunal rejected its appeal against a $220 million fine imposed by the country’s consumer protection agency, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

In appeals court papers cited by various media, including the BBC and The Africa Report, Meta said it “may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in order to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures”.

Meta’s social media platforms -- WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram -- are among the most popular in the country.

Meta has until the end of June to pay the fine, Nigerian media reported.