Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has initiated a $5 million lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, alleging unauthorized use of his identity in a misleading advertisement. The suit was filed at the Lagos State High Court on February 3, 2025.
Falana contends that Meta featured his name, image, and voice in an advertisement for a health product, falsely portraying him as suffering from prostatitis—a condition he asserts he has never experienced. The advertisement, published under the page “AfriCare Health Centre” on Facebook, claimed that Falana had battled prostatitis for over 16 years, enduring symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and urinary issues.
In his legal filing, Falana argues that this unauthorized use of his identity violates his fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and specific provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. He is seeking a declaration that Meta’s actions infringed upon his privacy rights, an immediate removal of the false advertisement, and $5 million in general damages for the distress and reputational harm caused.
The case has garnered significant attention across social media platforms. On X (formerly Twitter), users have expressed support for Falana’s stance against unauthorized use of personal information. User @LegalEagle tweeted, “Protecting one’s identity is paramount. Kudos to Falana for taking a stand.” On Instagram, the news has sparked discussions about digital privacy rights, with many emphasizing the need for stricter regulations to prevent such occurrences.
As of now, the court has not scheduled a date for the hearing. This lawsuit underscores the ongoing global discourse on data privacy and the responsibilities of tech giants in safeguarding user information.
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