Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, over claims of unauthorized use of his identity in a misleading advertisement.
The lawsuit, submitted at the Lagos State High Court on February 3, 2025, alleges that Meta used Falana’s name, image, and voice in a false promotional campaign for a health product. The advertisement allegedly portrayed him as suffering from prostatitis—a condition he insists he has never experienced.
Falana contends that Meta’s actions constitute a violation of his fundamental right to privacy, citing Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and specific provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, including Sections 24(1)(A) and (E) and Section 34(1)(D).
According to court documents, the misleading content was published under a Facebook page named “AfriCare Health Centre.” The post falsely claimed that Falana had been battling prostatitis for over 16 years, suffering from symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and urinary problems.
Falana stated that he had never been associated with the platform or its pages regarding health-related matters and described the video as deceptive and damaging to his reputation.
A declaration that Meta’s actions infringed on his privacy rights.
An immediate order for the removal of the false advertisement.
$5 million in general damages for the emotional distress and reputational damage he suffered.
He argues that Meta failed to fact-check the claims before allowing the advertisement to be published, subjecting him to unnecessary ridicule and distress. Furthermore, he accuses the company of prioritizing engagement and ad revenue at his expense.
The court has yet to schedule a hearing for the case.
FemiFalana, #MetaLawsuit, #FacebookAds, #PrivacyViolation, #DataProtection, #LegalAction, #HumanRights, #OnlineDefamation, #FakeEndorsements, #SocialMediaAccountability, #ReputationalDamage, #DigitalRights, #NigeriaLaw, #MetaPlatforms, #FalseAdvertising
