Meta threatens to shut down Facebook and Instagram over fine

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has warned it may be forced to shut down the two platforms in Nigeria due to mounting regulatory pressures and what it calls “unrealistic” demands from authorities.

The tech giant issued the warning in a recent court filing, according to a report by the BBC.

On July 19, 2024, Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) slammed Meta with a $220 million fine over multiple data privacy violations. The penalty followed a 38-month joint investigation with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) into Meta and WhatsApp’s privacy practices.

Meta has since vowed to appeal the fine. However, on April 25, a consumer protection tribunal upheld the penalty and gave the company until the end of June to comply.

In its filing, Meta said it might have to “effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in order to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures.” Notably, WhatsApp was not included in the threat.

The company’s main grievance appears to be with the NDPC, which Meta accuses of misinterpreting Nigeria’s data protection laws. The NDPC had fined Meta $32.8 million, while the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) imposed an additional $37.5 million fine for unapproved advertising.

Authorities are also demanding that Meta seek prior approval before transferring Nigerian users’ data abroad — a requirement the company described as “unrealistic.” In addition, the NDPC directed Meta to create educational content on data privacy risks, featuring a dedicated icon on its platforms. These videos are to be produced in collaboration with government-approved institutions and nonprofits.

Meta, however, rejected the conditions, calling them “unworkable” and claiming the agency has failed to correctly interpret the country’s data laws.

The FCCPC said the fines were based on investigations conducted from May 2021 to December 2023 alongside the NDPC.

As of now, Meta has not publicly announced its next steps.