Falana Sues Meta, Seeks $5m For Invasion Of Privacy

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana has filed a $5, 000, 000 (Five million US dollar) suit before a Lagos High Court against the United States of America-based organization Meta Platforms Inc., over alleged invasion of his privacy.

Falana alleged that Meta published motion pictures and voice-tagged “AfriCare Health Center,” which the lawyer claimed violated the terms of his privacy, as provided by section 37 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, on their website.

The suit was filed pursuant to Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 24 (1) (A) and (E) &amp, Section 34 (1) (D) of Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, Order 2 Rule 1 Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules, 2009.

Falana claimed the video and publication as they were released through the organization’s website, www. facebook.com, is “false, inaccurate, misleading and unfair to him and thereby violates the provision of section 24 (1) (a) and (e) of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023”.

The Senior Advocate is therefore requesting a ruling from the court that the Respondents continue to publish the applicant’s name, as well as photos of the applicant’s voice on a page and videos of the applicant’s website, www.africarehealthcare.com. According to Facebook.com, the applicant who has a disease known as “Prostatitis” constitutes an invasion of the Applicants’ privacy, which is guaranteed by section 37 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

He also requests that the court grant a warrant that the Respondents immediately delete, erase, and delete the video that appears under the heading “AfriCare Health Centre” on their website, www. facebook.com”.

Falana is asking for general damages of $5, 000, 000 (five million US dollars) and any other consequential order that the court may deem appropriate to grant in the circumstances for the damages that the publication has caused him.

Falana claims that the false video that was made about his health status has discredited both his reputation and the image he has had.

He argued that the publication by the respondent which is false, offensive, and disturbing paints him in a false light, that has caused him mental and emotional disturbances.

Additionally, read: Meta Forbids Users From Using Trump Administration Accounts.

The respondents published the applicant’s name and images, labeled him as a false illness, and violated his right to privacy, which is guaranteed by Section 37 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), and he has experienced emotional and psychological distress as a result of the false story.

Falana claimed in the affidavit supporting the motion that he is well-known for his fearless legal fights, which include cases involving violations of civil rights, civil rights, international human rights law, and that he is well-known for his fearless legal battles.

He added that he is well known for his efforts to fight against governmental overreach, promote freedom of expression, and support for marginalized groups.

Falana claimed that the respondent is a media company that runs www. facebook.com. and that on the 16th day of January 2025, he discovered a video of his person was posted on the Respondent’s platform under a page named “AfriCare Health Centre” on the Respondent’s platform – www. facebook.com. which he displayed as an exhibit in the lawsuit.

He stated: “In the video that carries my name and picture, I am reported to have said: ‘ My name is Femi Falana, and I have been battling prostatitis for over 16 years. At the age of 50, I was diagnosed with this condition. Every day I faced pain, discomfort, and constant fatigue. Lower back pain and other symptoms made it difficult for me to urinate and lead a full life. No one could treat me effectively despite consulting the best urologist in the country. I was given numerous prescriptions for physical therapy, surgery, and other treatments, but the issue was that these treatments only temporarily reduced the symptoms.

He lamented the publication of the respondent’s video and claimed that he had been greatly prejudiced because his health was a part of his private life and that he had never experienced the “Prostatitis” disease in his life.

The SAN claimed that “I have never had any interactions with the respondent or its pages on health issues.” The video and its contents are false, inaccurate, misleading, and unfair to me. I’m in a false sense, and watching the video violates my privacy.

He claimed that millions of people around the world can access and view content published on global platforms that the respondent runs. Hence, the stories have been viewed by millions of people since January 2023 when they were published on the respondent’s platforms.

Falana said, “For the purpose of this suit, I do not find these stories libelous but since they are false and fabricated against me, I find them offensive, reckless, insensitive, disturbing, and an unjustifiable intrusion into my privacy by painting me in a false light.

The Respondent’s page has “given me publicity,” according to the video, because the allegations are false and violate my right to privacy.

The video was made available to the entire world on the Internet at the time of deposing this affidavit, and it hasn’t stopped there for several weeks.

I think the Respondent’s publicity of my name and image in a false light was done carelessly and recklessly in order to entice more traffic to the Respondent’s platform in order to increase its advertising revenue.

“I think the respondent used my name and image in the video unfairly and sensitively because they didn’t verify the claims as they had anticipated,” I think.

I find the publicity for my photo and name by the respondent to be extremely offensive and emotionally unsettling. This continues to cause me anxiety, sadness, and exposure to ridicule. “

Source: Channels TV