The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria has filed a violation lawsuit against Meta Platforms Incorporated, the company that owns the platforms for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and its representative AT3 Resources Limited.
The suit was filed by the leading regulatory body for Nigeria’s advertising ecosystem, ARCON, formerly known as APCON, before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division.
ARCON requested a declaration that, among other things, Meta Platforms Incorporated’s continued publication and exposure of various advertisements targeted at the Nigerian market through Facebook and Instagram platforms without first ensuring that they are vetted and approved is illegal, unlawful, and a violation of the country’s current advertising laws.
According to ARCON, Meta Platforms Incorporated’s continued exposure to questionable advertisements also resulted in a loss of revenue for the federal government.
Due to Meta’s ongoing exposure of prohibited advertisements on its platforms, ARCON is requesting N30 billion in sanctions for the violation of the advertising regulations and for lost income.
The statement read in part: “ARCON reiterates that it would not permit unethical and irresponsible advertising on Nigeria’s advertising space.”
The Council, according to ARCON, is not in charge of policing the internet media landscape, instead, in accordance with the law that established it, it focuses on marketing and advertising communications on online platforms.
