Falana sues Meta for $5m, accuses Facebook of privacy invasion

Falana sues Meta for $5m, accuses Facebook of privacy invasion 

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has slammed a $5m suit against Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram accusing it of invading his privacy.

Falana alleged that Meta wrongfully used his name, image, and voice in an advertisement for a health product on its platform, portraying him as suffering from prostatitis—a condition he insists he has never had.

In his suit, filed at the Lagos State High Court on February 3, 2025, Falana argued that the unauthorised use of his identity constitutes a violation of his fundamental right to privacy under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 24(1)(A) and (E) & Section 34(1)(D) of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

Falana alleged that Meta published false and misleading content under the page “AfriCare Health Centre” on Facebook, falsely claiming he had battled prostatitis for over 16 years and struggled with symptoms like pain, fatigue, and urinary issues.

He said in the court documents that he had never had any dealings with the respondent on issues concerning his health and that the video is false, misleading, and unfair to him.

Falana is seeking a declaration that Meta’s actions violated his privacy rights, an order for Meta to remove the false video immediately, and $5m in general damages for the distress and reputational harm caused.

He argues that Meta’s failure to verify the claims before publishing had exposed him to ridicule and emotional distress.

He also asserted that the alleged false publicity was driven by Meta’s desire to boost engagement and revenue at his expense.