The Federal Government through the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has sued Meta Platforms Incorporated, owners of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp platforms, for showing unapproved advertisements to the Nigerian audience.
ARCON in a statement on Tuesday said it also sued Meta’s agent, AT3 Resources Limited, in the suit filed before the federal high court in Abuja.
According to the statement, ARCON is seeking a declaration, “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 said the continued exposure of the “unvetted” adverts has led to a “loss of revenue to the federal government.”
The regulatory body is seeking N30bn in sanction for the violation of the advertising laws and loss of revenue as a result of Meta Incorporated’s continued exposure of unapproved adverts on its platforms.
Other parts of the statement read; ARCON does not control the online media landscape.
Instead, in accordance with its formation Act, it focuses on advertising and marketing communications on online platforms.
