Recent Regulatory Enforcement Updates in Nigeria : Advertising and Consumer Protection/Data Protection/Privacy

On 19 July 2023, the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria’s (ARCON) N30 billion lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc. for unvetted advertisements. This decision suggests potential negotiations or future legal actions, and the proposed amendment to the ARCON Act may exempt digital ads from vetting requirements, thereby benefiting digital advertisers.

In addition, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) found Meta Platforms Inc. and WhatsApp LLC guilty of violating consumer protection and data privacy laws, imposing a $220 million penalty. We understand that Meta Platforms Inc. plans to appeal this decision.

These recent developments bring to the fore, compliance obligations imposed on digital service providers, who must now carefully navigate the regulatory space to avoid significant fines.

For assistance, please contact our Partner, Ijeoma Uju, Managing Counsel, Oghomwen Akpaibor, and Senior Associate, Okabonye Chukwuani.