The eminent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) , has initiated legal action against Meta Platforms Inc. , Facebook's parent company , Instagram, Whatsapp and Threats , claiming $ 5 million in damages. He accuses the company of having violated his right to privacy by authorizing the dissemination of a false advertisement on Facebook, wrongly suggesting that he would have suffered from prostatitis for 16 years .


A misleading ad that operates the image of FEMI FALANA

In this advertisement broadcast on the Africare Health Center Facebook page, Femi Falana is presented as having suffered from chronic pain, fatigue and urinary disorders linked to prostatitis. The publication says he would have healed thanks to a "miracle remedy". The lawyer categorically denies these allegations, denouncing an abusive exploitation of his identity to promote a questionable health product.
Posed on February 3, 2025 before the High Court of the State of Lagos, the legal action is based on article 37 of the Nigerian Constitution and the Nigerian law of 2023 on data protection , arguing that the unauthorized use of its image constitutes an attack on its private life. Falana demands that Meta immediately remove the disputed video and claims $ 5 million in compensation for the damage suffered.
The lawyer also underlines Meta's responsibility in this case, accusing the platform of favoring the commitment of users to the detriment of the veracity of content and respect for ethics. He believes that this advertisement exposed it to the public mockery and tarnished its image.


Meta under fire of criticism for its data in terms of data

This complaint comes as Meta is the subject of a meticulous examination for her data protection practices. In January, the company deleted its Fact-Checking program and introduced a "community notes" , supposed to allow users to check the facts between them. This decision has aroused concern about the increase in disinformation on its platforms.
The court has not yet set a hearing date for this case. However, if Meta was found guilty, this would constitute a new legal setback for the company, already sanctioned on several occasions for breaches of the protection of personal data.


In July 2024 , the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection of Nigeria (FCCPC) inflicted Meta a fine of $ 220 million for unauthorized transfer and sharing of personal data, after a joint 38 -month carried out with the Nigerian Data Protection Commission .


In addition, in May 2023 , Meta received a record fine of 1.2 billion euros ($ 1.3 billion) from the data protection commission (DPC) of Ireland RGPD rules . The company was found guilty of having transferred personal data from European users to the United States without sufficient data protection guarantees.


Increasing pressure on meta

Over the years, Meta has accumulated more than $ 3 billion in fines for various privacy offenses and personal data management. The legal action brought by FEMI Falana constitutes additional alarm signal for the company, which will have to reassess its practices in terms of content moderation, verification of facts and respect for privacy .
While disinformation proliferates on social networks, this case raises a crucial question: should digital platforms assume greater responsibility in the fight against information manipulation and the protection of individual rights?

By Kosisochakwu Charity Ani