The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, an arm of the Federal Government, has issued a warning to participants in the digital media market that any further violations of the recently promulgated ARCON Act will result in harsh penalties, including fines and even one-year prison terms for responsible officials.
The council lawyer, Charles Odenigbo said that all digital media marketers are now required by law to submit all advertising messages for approval by the council’s Advertising Standards panel prior to exposure or publishing.
At the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, ARCON filed a lawsuit in against Meta Platforms Corporation, the company that owns the platforms for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and its representative AT3 Resources Ltd.
For suspected violations of the advertising regulations and for income loss as a result, ARCON wanted a N30 billion fine.