FG To Sue All Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Platform
The owners of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta Platforms Incorporated, and its representative AT3 Resources Limited have allegedly been sued by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The nation’s top advertising regulatory body said on Tuesday that the federal government does not review and authorize the adverts that appear on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp in the Nigerian market.
Then, ARCON claimed that the ongoing, unchecked advertisements and other publications coming from Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta-owned social media platforms were illegal, unlawful, and in violation of the country’s current advertising laws. As a result, ARCON is requesting N30 billion in punitive damages.
It revealed this in a statement titled “ARCON sues Meta platforms incorporated, seeks N30b in sanction and penalties.”
The statement read: “The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has instituted a suit against Meta Platforms Incorporated (owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms) and its agent AT3 Resources Limited at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division.
“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 N30b 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.
“ARCON reiterate that it would not permit unethical and irresponsible advertising on the Nigeria’s advertising space.
“ARCON further stated that it’s not regulating the online media space but rather advertisement, advertising and marketing communications on the online platforms in line with its establishment Act.”
