The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has sued Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms Incorporated and its agent AT3 Resources Limited at Nigeria’s Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to a statement released by ARCON yesterday, the organisation is seeking N30 billion in punitive damages on the grounds that advertisements appearing on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp in the Nigerian markets have not been reviewed and approved by the federal government and are therefore illegal, unlawful, and a violation of the extant advertising Law in Nigeria.
Among other things, it said, “ARCON is seeking declaration among others 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.
“ARCON stated that Meta Platforms Incorporated’s continued exposure of unvetted adverts has also led to a loss of revenue to the Federal Government.”
“ARCON is seeking N30bn 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.”