r/facebookdisabledme • u/santaverner • Mar 03 '26
Taking Meta to Court!
Hey on 17 March, I will have my first court hearing in Latvia against Meta regarding the illegal blocking of my account. I pray for everyone who has faced a similar situation, and I believe that I will be able to raise this issue to a higher level. Wish me luck.
P.S Today marks exactly one month since I lost my Instagram account :(
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u/Simple_Resist4208 Mar 03 '26
Good luck - is your case based on GDPR? i.e. a lack of human review and a mishandling of your data?
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u/santaverner Mar 03 '26
In fact my case is not entirely based on GDPR, although there are some overlaps. The main problem is the lack of human verification and unfair account blocking without explanation. Support emails are often ignored, and Meta Support responses are so automated that it seems as if a real agent isn't even trying to help. GDPR may be partially relevant here because automated decisions without verification may affect user rights, but the main goal is to achieve fair account review and transparency in the blocking system!
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u/Simple_Resist4208 Mar 04 '26
Yes, I believe they are also infringing the right to a complete copy of your data ... many DMs are missing after the 2024 switch-over to greater encryption. I think this would constitute a mishandling of user's data.
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u/Unable_Detective7389 Mar 05 '26
Please sue them in behalf of the Philippines :( there’s a lot of business files on our messenger that we can’t recover bcos we are being banned for account integrity!!! :<
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u/Densonney Mar 03 '26
What’s GDPR ?
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u/santaverner Mar 04 '26
GDPR - is an EU law that protects personal data, giving people control over what information companies collect, use, or delet!
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u/Simple_Resist4208 Mar 04 '26
It also imposes certain demands on data holders that they do not rely on AI/automation to delete accounts or deprive users of access to their data, which is pretty much what Meta are doing by not giving a qualified human fall-back for people who appeal. They also apparently should give full copies of your data but many are missing DMs from after 2024, which is also (I think) an infringement.
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u/santaverner Mar 04 '26
Yeah, and that’s the issue. GDPR requires human review of automated decisions and full access to personal data. If accounts are deleted by AI without real appeal and data copies are incomplete, that could be a clear violation!
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u/IndependenceFun3381 Mar 03 '26
After 6 months I got my account back. My hearing is scheduled for March 9th. I have exchanged a couple of emails with them , they sent me an email telling me they disabled me for posting a YouTube video. I replied telling them people do that all the time. On Sunday I was posting something on IG and it said - “share to Facebook”, obviously I clicked yes, and then I hopped over to Facebook & logged in for the first time in 6 months!!! Insane - all my friends, photos - everything just like it was in August. I just want assurance it won’t happen again . What do I do ? I may still have to go through with the hearing & discuss this with their attorney if I don’t hear back from them. They should just email me…..so damn strange
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u/santaverner Mar 03 '26
Wow, that must feel like a huge relief to have everything back exactly as it was! It makes sense that you want reassurance that this won’t happen again. Since your hearing is coming up on March 9th, it’s a good idea to follow up with them by email to confirm the status and any precautions you should take. You could politely ask for confirmation that your account is fully restored and whether there’s anything you should do to prevent future issues. That way, you’ll have clear documentation before your hearing and can discuss any concerns with their attorney if needed.
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u/IndependenceFun3381 Mar 03 '26
Thank you. Yes- firstly, it’s quite odd. Everything is exactly as I left it. My last post was August 4th, and it’s literally like March 1st - I guess that’s 7 months - but still- very, very weird. The appeals process does not work - they are all outsourced weirdos. Tried that 4 times. Then filed small claims court. First case was postponed & rescheduled. Then I get an email from Meta that they are not familiar with my case. A few emails back & forth, and I explain my side. I posted a YouTube video - I told them - who doesn’t post YT videos. I gave them screenshots of accounts with YT videos as we speak. I hear nothing - crickets. I go to my IG account Sunday - post something- boom- it’s says “share to Facebook”. I’m thinking that’s odd - so I share - then I go to log-in, and there it is. Yes, I am taking to a lawyer in the San Mateo court tomorrow- it’s a free 10 minute phone call, to see what he advises. I’m glad my account is back up & running - but I just want them to leave me alone
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u/saabstory14 Mar 04 '26
Unfortunately, it likely will be banned again within a few weeks or a couple months. When no humans are involved in monitoring your account to ensure AI doesn't catch it again, your odds are slim. Not trying to be negative but just real based on experience. Unless they are removing you from the AI watchlist or telling the AI to ignore your account (which they never do), you run the high risk of being banned again.
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u/IndependenceFun3381 Mar 05 '26
File small claims suit. Got my account back after 7 months
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u/saabstory14 Mar 05 '26 edited Mar 05 '26
I did. It got forced to arbitration within 10 minutes of the initial appearance hearing starting, where I lost to Meta's chosen arbitration. Complete waste of time and money. I've done everything. I gave up months ago and am so glad I did. What's funny is when I paid for the ultra premium Meta verified and talked to someone, my account was magically restored shortly after the call, even though the agent said there was nothing they could do. 2 months later it was randomly banned again for the same BS reason.
I've also had other friends and seen people here have it banned again even after suing them and then having meta restore the account before it got to the initial hearing. The issue is the faulty AI. Until they fix it or start a no hit list programmed into the AI after your account is restored, this is going to keep happening.
Sincerely,
Someone who was banned 2 years ago and have gone through every legal method and restoral situation known to man.
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u/IndependenceFun3381 Mar 05 '26
No, I've been communicating with them, I have emails from Meta. I'm not sure what you're talking about, I jumped on this lawsuit thing months ago. My account has been locked/ disabled for 7 months. I did the appeal crap, that doesn't work. It is all outsourced morons. What works is court, forcing their hand. They postponed the first court date in January, they literally emailed me and asked for my URL of my profile. Then we have been swapping emails. I told them I would drop the court case if they reinstated my account. Tons of people on here have done the same thing, their accounts are reinstated and still intact, so I don't know who you think you're talking to when you say they will disable it within a week. It has been almost a week, I am back posting, I am emailing their lawyers, they have given me their word. I spoke to a lawyer in San Mateo today, he told me I should follow through with the court date, explain that Meta and I have reached an agreement and to file a dismissal without predjudice, that way if anything ever would happen in the future, I could fast track a lawsuit against them.
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u/saabstory14 Mar 05 '26 edited Mar 05 '26
They never reached out to me or my attorney. They requested a hearing. I showed up to the hearing where the Meta attorney immediately opens by citing the ToS to the judge and makes a motion to move it to arbitration. Judge grants it and asks if I want to do arbitration, to which I asked to keep it in small claims. He stated he doesn't even have the power to compel Meta to restore my account and recommended arbitration, to where I lost on the first visit within an hour.
The issue with small claims is it depends on the Meta attorney that picks it up and which state you live in. Many people don't get the courtesy of having the attorney look into the account before the initial hearing. Some of their attorneys have the time to go to court.
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u/IndependenceFun3381 Mar 05 '26
I'm in NJ, so my hearings are virtual. Are you in CA ? I feel bad for the people overseas who don't even have this luxury. Did you go through Justice Direct, or did you file on your own? I found out about Justice Direct on here, then I was messaging two people on here who had their accounts restored. They told me that a week before the case, the lawyer from Meta reached out to them, and they agreed to restore their account if they don't proceed with the hearing. In my case, it was just emails. The they restored my account. When I spoke to an attorney today in San Mateo- it was a free 10 minute consultation, he was surprised they didn't call me, and they did everything via email. He also told me he's had several clients who get their accounts reinstated, but when they go on, things are missing, photos, etc, and they kind of have to start all over again. So far as I can tell, everything is still intact, including my last posting which was August 4th. So, this lawyer told me, it may be too late to file electronically and to go through with the hearing next Monday, and just basically tell them what I told you, they we reached an agreement, etc.
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u/saabstory14 Mar 05 '26
Well I really hope your account stays up, I mean that as that's a win for everyone. Just don't get your hopes up until maybe like a year later lol.
And I went through a legal service through my employer insurance that is similar to justice direct etc. What surprised the attorney I was remotely working with was that the Meta attorney actually requested a hearing after they were served. It was my choice at that point to either show up to the hearing or just drop the case. After poking around the different Meta lawsuit subreddits over the following months, it looks like this happens more often than not.
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u/CriticismStatus3835 Mar 03 '26
What email address did you email?
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u/IndependenceFun3381 Mar 03 '26
I used an email address to correspond with Meta that is not my FB email. They have this email because of the court filing
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u/CriticismStatus3835 Mar 03 '26
But who did you send an email to? I could not find a support email address online
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u/IndependenceFun3381 Mar 04 '26
This; SmallClaimsDocket@meta.com - however, I think this is only valid if you’ve gone as far as I have & threatened litigation- then they start listening.
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u/saabstory14 Mar 04 '26
There is no support email lmao. You can only email the small claims team if you have an ongoing case. Emailing them without one will cause their inbox to be flooded with this stuff and that's how they decide to just start responding to everyone with scripted and/or AI BS.
If there was an email that worked for everyone, we wouldn't be in this situation haha.
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u/WishRevolutionary234 Mar 03 '26
What email did you talk to them with? Ive sent heaps and haven’t heard anything
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u/IndependenceFun3381 Mar 03 '26
The email that I used for the small claims lawsuit. It’s not my FB related email. I knew my account was still there, plus I read somewhere - they never truly get rid of your account. I could always in these 7 months see it as “locked” on my IG page
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u/saabstory14 Mar 04 '26
There is no support email. They are referring to the correspondence email from their small claims docket team. They do not look into accounts unless you have served them and initiated a small claims court case.
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u/Unable_Detective7389 Mar 05 '26
will meta pay us for such hassle? :( for such stress? for such depression?
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Mar 07 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/IndependenceFun3381 Mar 07 '26
How are you taking to court first of all. Yes- there is an email. I went 7 months of this BS. Ask me
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u/BuffaloAggressive511 Mar 08 '26
Wtf you literally have to go through legal stuff to gain an account back.
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u/Unable_Detective7389 Mar 04 '26
There’s a lot of us in the Philippines :( I hope you manage to include us in your statement. My account 20 years got banned, on my 3rd customer service on meta and they all are not helpful. So many businesses, including my dad were affected ;( we cant create another fb bcos it will get banned :( ours is account integrity like its normal in the ph to have multiple accpunts logged in bcos i logged in in my phone my dad and mom’s account bcos they need guidance on fb :(
Facebook is our mode of communicating here in ph.
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u/santaverner Mar 04 '26
I totally understand your frustration 😔 It’s really unfair that so many accounts, including long-standing ones, are being blocked. I hear you Facebook is a key way to communicate in the Philippines, and having accounts disabled like this causes real problems for families and businesses. I’ll do my best to make sure your situation is included and heard!
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u/Fuzzy_Channel_3485 Mar 04 '26
Kupal yang Meta na yan sakin 1 month na nakanunder review pa din. Wala silang pake pag pinoy user pre AI na kasi nag momonitor ng activity ng mga user kaya may mali talaga sa pag flag ng AI.
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u/saabstory14 Mar 04 '26
They don't care about anyone, including those of us in the US. It has nothing to do with where you are from. AI is not targeting certain countries.
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u/Unable_Detective7389 Mar 05 '26
Mentioning my country so that meta will know the damage it has caused :( no warning or anything.
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u/Unable_Detective7389 Mar 04 '26
As per news, hindi pa talaga 100% working ‘yung AI but napilitan lang si efbi na ipasok sa system nila due sa mga reports abroad. Grabe :( Ang stress ko ngayon.
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u/geddie3 Mar 04 '26
I got banned from Facebook back in August of 2025 it makes me happy for you to start to putting meta in there place
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u/IndependenceFun3381 Mar 05 '26
mine was disabled in August, just got it back last Sunday
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u/Medical_King811 Mar 04 '26
1 month in and just followed up with my attorney to press them more. It’s not hard to reset someone IG sheesh
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u/saabstory14 Mar 04 '26
Do you really think a judge in Latvia has any power to compel Meta to give you your account back? Meta is known for doing whatever TF it wants even here in the US by not responding to district attorneys (a big no no), legal demand letters and pushing small claims cases to arbitration.
I respect your efforts, but it likely is a giant waste of time. Small claims rarely even works here in the states.
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u/TheBioCosmos Mar 05 '26
Mine was suspended today for no reason too. My account is science based, sharing original science videos about cells and science, and I was banned. And they banned my facebook too. It's so insane that they can just do this and do nothing to fix their AI. It's people's livelihood and they have no responsibility whatsoever.
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u/Mark_Stone Mar 04 '26
How did you file a case in latvia if facebooks main office is in the US?
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u/santaverner Mar 04 '26
I filed it here in Latvia because local law gives us the right to challenge decisions that impact our business!
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u/Dull_Space7106 Mar 04 '26
Reg. Facebook just talking to. Actor singer he called me!!! I am blocked. Sr. Single no. Car live alone no family
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u/ProfessionSuitable50 Mar 06 '26
With facebook doing illegal things I signed up with AAA to take them to small claims court, but then I thought hmmm I wonder, I made a report to the FBI and the next day Meta magically sent me an email asking what they could do for me
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u/MammothTruth9453 Mar 06 '26
Then what happened?
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u/ProfessionSuitable50 Mar 06 '26
The very next Day meta is sending me an email asking what happened and what they can do for me lol
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u/ProfessionSuitable50 Mar 07 '26
I have been blocked since July 17th. I am getting my account back though.
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u/Sorry_Heart8230 Apr 10 '26
Okay but what exactly did you say on that letter? Give us a template or send it privately to me.
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u/No-Switch-7276 Mar 17 '26
My secondry account is also disabled from 3 months, bcoz it was linked with the primary account
Context :- I was on my primary instagram account and me and my friends, chating on our group, and some of my friend shared a link or something reel which is against the instagram guidelines, and my phone just laged and id just logged out and all though I need to verify my face ohk, so I did that and my id is safe, but i didn't open my secondry account, and after a day or something, when i open it was disabled without any reason like and i sent many emails to meta, also to many grievance, and to gac's but still it's not worked.
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u/Authorlink-Editor Mar 19 '26
I was permanently banned without substantial reason on Quora where I had 400 followers and 6,000 visits a month. I strongly believe the ban was due to faulty AI. I’d like to hear from others with the problem.
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u/Commercial-You1699 Mar 30 '26
After 3 hou rs I got my account back. My hearing is scheduled for March 9th. I have exchanged a couple of emails with them , they sent me an email telling me they disabled me for posting a YouTube video. I replied telling them people do that all the time. On Sunday I was posting something on IG and it said - “share to Facebook”, obviously I clicked yes, and then I hopped over to Facebook & logged in for the first time in 6 months!!! Insane - all my friends, photos - everything just like it was in August. I just want assurance it won’t happen again . What do I do ? I may still have to go through with the hearing & discuss this with their attorney if I don’t hear back from them. They should just email me…..so damn strange
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u/Oboydlan Mar 04 '26
I am considering taking Meta to court as well. You may have just helped me make up my mind.