Meta bows to Nigeria’s demand in $32.8 million data privacy settlement

The case, filed in February 2025 against the American media giant Meta, has continued amid the company’s repeated dismissal of the allegations.

The Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) accused Meta of violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act through behavioural advertising on Facebook and Instagram, claiming the company transferred users’ data abroad without approval and failed to obtain explicit consent from Nigerian users.

Meta however denied the allegations, saying the process was flawed and that it had not been granted a fair hearing.

At the resumed hearing on Friday, October 3, 2025, Meta’s counsel, Fred Onwuobia, informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that both parties were in the advanced stages of resolving the dispute. He urged the court to suspend judgment to allow for the conclusion of settlement discussions.

Counsel to the NDPC, Adeola Adedipe, confirmed the development, stating that negotiations were progressing positively.

Following the submissions, presiding Judge James Omotosho adjourned the matter until October 31, 2025, for possible adoption of settlement terms or delivery of judgment.

The dispute is part of a broader pattern of regulatory actions against Meta in Nigeria. In 2024, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) issued a $220 million fine, while the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) imposed a $37.5 million penalty over advertising practices.

These actions have underscored the government’s increasing oversight of multinational technology companies operating within the country’s fast-growing digital economy.

Beyond Nigeria, Meta has faced pressure in other parts of Africa. In July 2025, a High Court in South Africa approved a consent order against the company following a lawsuit by The Digital Law Company. The case stemmed from the circulation of explicit content involving schoolchildren on Instagram and WhatsApp, which Meta was accused of being slow to remove.

Under the court order, Meta agreed to shut down more than 60 WhatsApp and Instagram accounts linked to the material and to provide user data, including IP addresses and phone numbers, to assist in identifying those responsible.

Industry observers note that the outcome of the case could set a precedent for how multinational technology firms engage with Nigeria’s tightening regulatory environment, particularly in the areas of data protection, privacy, and digital advertising.