Lagos High Court awards $25,000 to Femi Falana over Meta’s false video, ruling the tech giant liable for invasion of privacy and unlawful data processing

The Lagos High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square has awarded $25,000 in damages to Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana in his $5 million lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the US-based company owned by Mark Zuckerberg, over alleged invasion of privacy.

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Justice Olalekan Oresanya held that global technology firms hosting content for commercial benefit owe a duty of care to individuals affected by material shared on their platforms.

Falana, through his lawyer Olumide Babalola, accused Meta of publishing a video and voice captions titled “AfriCare Health Centre,” falsely suggesting he suffered from prostatitis.

He argued the publication violated Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution, tarnished his reputation, and caused mental and emotional distress.

The court rejected Meta’s defence that it acted only as a content host. It held that the platform, which monetises pages and controls content distribution, is jointly responsible for harmful material.

“The fact that the applicant is a public figure does not rob him of his right to privacy,” the judgment noted, adding that Meta processed sensitive health data unlawfully, without safeguards, and failed to prevent foreseeable harm.

Babalola said the ruling sets a precedent for platform accountability under Nigerian law, limits the “mere platform” defence, and reinforces protection of sensitive personal data for public figures.

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The court emphasised that companies with extensive resources, such as Meta, are expected to deploy effective content-review systems, rapid takedown procedures, and safeguards proportionate to the risk posed by misinformation.