Anger and chaos as the meta overturns more Instagram account bans

Instagram users told the BBC their confusion, fear and anger after suspending their accounts, often wrongly accused of breaching the platform’s rules on child sexual abuse.

For months, thousands of people around the world have complained that the meta-people have mistakenly banned their Instagram and Facebook accounts from misleading.

They said they were wrongly accused of violating on-site rules, including around child sexual exploitation.

More than 500 of them contacted the BBC, saying they had lost precious photos and saw business rises – but some also spoke about the profound personal losses caused to them, including fears that police might be involved.

Meta acknowledged a problem by mistake on Facebook groups in Junebut denied that there are broader issues on Facebook or Instagram.

It repeatedly declined to comment on the issues facing its users – although it often overturned the ban when the BBC filed a personal case.

Here are some stories that users share with BBC News.

Yassmine Boussihmed, 26, from the Netherlands, spent five years building an Instagram profile for her boutique dress shop in Eindhoven.

In April, she was banned Account Integrity. More than 5,000 followers, disappeared immediately. She lost her clients and suffered damage.

“I have all the trust in social media, and social media helped me grow, but it disappointed me,” she told the BBC.

Her Instagram account was restored this week after the BBC sent questions about her case to Meta’s press office.

“I’m very grateful,” she said in a tearful voice.

Five minutes later, her personal Instagram was suspended again – but the dress shop account still exists.

Lucia is not her real name, she is a 21-year-old woman from Austin, Texas.

She was suspended for only two weeks on Instagram violation META’s policy on child sexual exploitation (CSE), abuse and nudity.

Like all other cases, she was not informed of the reasons for violating the platform rules.

This makes her wonder if she posted photos of herself and photos of her 21-year-old friend wearing bikini triggered the artificial intelligence (AI) conditioning tool in some way because she thinks they “look a little younger.”

She also uses her account to interact with under 18, such as sending reels to her sister.

“It’s really disturbing to be as disgusting as this allegation,” she told BBC News.

“Given my desire to be a lawyer and advocate for representing children in juvenile justice, I was shocked to be suspended for knowing that I don’t do and never do.”

She appealed, and then her account was restored about seven hours after the BBC emphasized Lucia’s case to Meta’s press office, without any explanation.

More than 36,000 people signed a petition accusing metadata of wrongly banning accounts; there are thousands of information on Reddit forums or social media.

Their central allegation – Meta’s AI unfairly bans people, the technology has also been used to deal with appeals. The only way to talk to people is Pay verified dollarand even many people feel frustrated.

Meta has not commented on these claims yet. Instagram says AI is at the heart of its “content review process”, Meta outlines How technology and humans implement their policies.

Duncan Edmonstone from Cheshire suffers from stage 4 ALK+ lung cancer. The 55-year-old found solace in his support network of private Facebook groups.

By the end of June, he was banned for breaking in Cybersecurity Guidelines before restoring principles.

“The support group is my lifeline and there are practical examples of the recommendations of the group members to make a difference in the treatment of other patients,” he said.

“I may shorten the satisfaction and meaning in life in helping others in this group.”

Ryan – not his real name – has been banned, restored and banned Instagram over the past few months.

The former London teacher was abandoned in May after being accused of violating CSE policies.

He spent a month fascinating. In June, the BBC learned about the double check of human hosts and concluded that Ryan violated the policy.

Then, his account suddenly recovered at the end of July.

“We’re sorry we were wrong,” Instagram said in an email to him, adding that he did nothing wrong.

Ryan was frightened.

“‘Sorry, we call pedophiles two months – this is your account,'” the tone of how he characterizes the message.

But this is not the end of the story.

He was again banned on Instagram after contacting Meta’s press office for a few hours after asking questions about his experience, the first time Facebook has been banned.

He told the BBC: “I’m very upset and I don’t know what to do.”

“I can’t believe this has happened twice.”

Two days later, his Facebook account came back – but he was still blocked by Instagram.

Ryan said he felt very isolated – worried that police would “knock on the door.”

His experience reflects other experiences Tell the BBC Instagram user Their accounts were banned in amid “extreme pressure” that was wrongly accused of violating the platform’s rules on CSE.

Despite the action taken on Yasmin, Lucia and Ryan’s accounts, Meta has not commented on the BBC.

Together with all the big tech companies, it has been under pressure from the authorities to make its platform safer.

Meta said in July It is taking “positive action” to accounts that violate the rules – including 635,000 Instagram and Facebook accounts removed from comments and images related to children.

Yuan Broad policies on child sexual exploitation Three changes have occurred since last year’s Boxing Day, and all amendments have been made since July 17.

It did not say how these changes would affect the case filed by the BBC (BBC).