Another news which has almost gone unnoticed is the fact that the Nigerian government has fined Meta, the American tech giant, for breaching privacy laws; and Meta has decided to settle out of court to the fine!!! This is a major development for an African country, and then in general in an era where these giants own our data and dispose as they see fit. Last year, the Nigerian government had handed Meta a fine of $220 million, saying its investigations found “multiple and repeated” violations of the country’s data protection and consumer rights laws on Facebook and WhatsApp. Meta was accused of using Nigerians’ data for ads without their clear permission, collecting data from people who don’t even use its platforms, failing to file required reports, and sending user data abroad without proper approval.

This October, after months of legal battles, Meta Platforms Inc., the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has agreed to settle the case out of court and to pay $32.8 million to Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission for breaking the country’s data privacy rules. In all honesty, the sum is meagre … but it is a step forward (?). The Data Protection Commission has now ordered Meta to update its privacy policy, carry out local reviews of how it uses data, and always get user consent before using personal data for targeted advertising.

It’s like the Tech-giant thought that it was the usual far west in Africa, and business as usual for them and the way they treat Africans with the usual condescending; they thought they could do as they pleased with Nigerians’ information. Many experts think that this case sets a precedent and could influence how big tech companies handle user data across Africa as more countries introduce stronger privacy laws.

Enjoy excerpts below from Africanews.

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Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is set to settle a $32.8 million data privacy fine with the Nigerian government, marking a significant moment for digital rights enforcement in Africa.

The fine was imposed by Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in February 2025 for alleged violations of the Nigeria Data Protection Act. Meta was accused of using Nigerian users’ data for behavioural advertising without explicit consent, processing personal data of non-users, failing to file mandatory compliance audits, and transferring user data abroad without authorisation.

The settlement, expected to be finalised by the end of October 2025, comes after months of legal disputes. Meta initially challenged the fine and the process but moved toward an out-of-court agreement, signalling willingness to comply with Nigeria’s growing regulatory demands.

This case highlights Nigeria’s assertiveness in regulating global tech companies and could set an influential precedent for data privacy enforcement across African markets.

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