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The Nigerian government has sued Meta, owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms, over ‘unapproved’ adverts. Nigeria is seeking N30bn in sanction for the violation of the country’s advertising laws and for loss of revenue as a result of “Meta Incorporated’s continued exposure of unapproved adverts on its platforms,”
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The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the apex regulatory body for Nigeria’s advertising industry, said in a statement this week that it has lodged a suit against Meta Platforms Incorporated and its agent AT3 Resources Limited at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division.
The statement reads: “ARCON is seeking N30b in sanction for the violation of the advertising laws and for loss of revenue as a result of Meta Incorporated’s continued exposure of unapproved adverts on its platforms.
“ARCON reiterates that it would not permit unethical and irresponsible advertising on Nigeria’s advertising space.
“ARCON further states that it is not regulating the online media space but rather advertising and marketing communications on the online platforms in line with its establishment Act.”
The regulatory body is seeking a declaration “that the continued publication and exposure of various advertisements directed at the Nigerian market through Facebook and Instagram platforms by Meta Platforms Incorporated without ensuring same is vetted and approved before exposure is illegal, unlawful and a violation of the extant advertising Law in Nigeria”.
COVER IMAGE: AFP (President MUhammadu Buhari and Mark Zuckerberg)
