Meta faces backlash over mass Facebook account bans

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

Many Facebook Groups are facing a sudden ban. This comes shortly after similar mass bans on Instagram and Facebook user accounts. 

Now, it appears that Facebook Groups, which are used by communities to share content, ask questions, and connect over shared interests, are also being hit by unexpected suspensions.

Users on Reddit and other forums report that thousands of groups have been affected, both in the US and internationally.

Meta has acknowledged the issue. A spokesperson, Andy Stone, confirmed it’s a “technical error” and said they are working to fix it. (Via: Tech Crunch)

However, the company has not provided any clear reason for why these bans are happening.

Many users suspect the problem stems from Meta’s automated moderation systems, likely powered by AI. These systems are designed to detect harmful content, but they may be making mistakes. 

For instance, groups dedicated to innocent topics like bird photography, parenting tips, Pokémon games, pets, and interior design are being flagged for serious violations like promoting terrorism or sharing nudity, claims that group admins strongly deny.

Some of the groups being banned are very large, with tens or even hundreds of thousands of members. 

Group admins say they received vague violation notices without explanations, making it hard to understand or challenge the bans. 

Some people have suggested not to appeal the bans right away, as they believe Meta may fix the issue and automatically restore the groups.

A few admins who pay for Meta’s Verified subscription, which includes better customer support, have had some success getting their groups reinstated. 

But others, even those who carefully moderated their content, report that their groups have been deleted entirely.

This issue may be part of a broader trend, as other platforms like Pinterest and Tumblr are also facing similar problems with mass suspensions. 

While Pinterest blamed an internal error and Tumblr pointed to a new filtering system, both incidents suggest that automated content moderation might be behind the chaos.

Users are now organizing petitions and, in some cases, pursuing legal action to get answers from Meta, which still hasn’t explained what’s causing the bans.

What do you think about this Facebook issue? Do you think Meta needs a better grievance redressal mechanism since this has been an issue with Instagram as well? Tell us below in the comments, or via our Twitter or Facebook.