WATCH THE VIDEO HERE Nigerians may lose access to the social media platforms operated by Meta, a report by the BBC has said. If this happens, it will not be the first time social media users in the country have experienced such blackout. Recall that in 2021, the Nigerian government banned Twitter after the platform removed a post by the immediate past president of the country, Mr Muhammadu Buhari, for violating its rules. The embargo was lifted in January 2022 after seven months. Last week, Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal on Friday ordered WhatsApp and Meta Platforms Incorporated to pay a $220 million penalty and $35,000 to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) within 60 days over data discrimination practices in Nigeria. The tribunal’s three-member panel, led by Mr Thomas Okosun, in a verdict last Friday, dismissed the appeal by WhatsApp and Meta Platforms Incorporated regarding the $220 million penalty imposed by the FCCPC for alleged discriminatory practices in Nigeria. In a report, the BBC said Meta argued that if it is forced to pay the fine, its users in Nigeria may lose access to Facebook and Instagram. “The applicant may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in order to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures,” the company said in the court papers. If this happens, it may greatly affect content creators, who rely on the platform for earnings. Facebook remains one of the most popular social media platforms in the country like TikTok and Twitter, now known as X after Mr Elon Musk acquired it. Meta is battling with different fines in Nigeria, including a $32.8 million sanction from the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) alleged Meta over data privacy laws, and a $37.5 million fine for unapproved advertising.
Facebook May Leave Nigeria Over $220m FCCPC Fine, Others
