Instagram and Facebook users unite against mass account bans, file petition and plan to sue Meta

Frustrated Instagram and Facebook users are taking matters into their own hands after experiencing what they call wrongful mass account suspensions. And now it seems the frustration is boiling over as many affected users are banding together with a Change.org petition and threatening legal action against Meta Platforms Inc.

The petition, titled “Meta Wrongfully Disabling Accounts with No Human Customer Support,” has already garnered over 2,200 signatures from users worldwide who claim their accounts were disabled without justification. The petition was created by Brittany WS, who argues that Meta’s AI moderation system is causing widespread false flags that lock users out of their digital lives.

As we highlighted yesterday, hundreds (if not thousands) of users have reported sudden account bans citing “child sexual exploitation” as the reason, despite posting content that clearly falls within platform guidelines. The accusations range from sharing family photos to posting artwork and music videos. One father’s account was flagged after posting pictures from his child’s kindergarten graduation, while artists and musicians found years of work wiped away overnight.

The petition outlines several key demands for Meta. Users want the company to fix its AI moderation system to reduce false flags, establish a clear and timely appeal process, and provide genuine human support for users. They’re also demanding that Meta stop monetizing broken support services, referring to the Meta Verified subscription that costs $14.99 monthly but often fails to provide the promised enhanced support.

Reddit communities have become organizing hubs for affected users. One user, xElemeno, posted a formal “Letter of Intent to Sue” that they planned to send via certified mail to Meta’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California. The letter accuses Meta of slander and defamation, claiming the false child exploitation allegations could have life-altering consequences for users who work in sensitive industries requiring background checks.

The legal document demands account reinstatement and an investigation into the AI moderation system, threatening to seek compensation and remedial measures if Meta doesn’t respond within 30 days. Other users have expressed interest in joining potential class action lawsuits, with one affected user stating they lost over 30 business accounts, causing “unimaginable financial damage.”

However, the movement faces significant challenges. Meta deals with such lawsuits frequently and has nearly unlimited legal resources compared to individual users. The company’s terms of service include provisions that allow account suspension for various reasons, making legal action difficult.

Change.org petitions in situations like these historically haven’t proven particularly effective against major tech companies. Meta has faced similar controversies before, without making substantial policy changes based on online petitions alone.

Users report that appeal processes are largely automated, with rejections coming within minutes. “I appealed and the same AI shockingly rejected and permabanned me,” wrote one user. The lack of human oversight in both initial moderation and appeals has become a central complaint.

The movement represents growing frustration with big tech platforms’ reliance on automated systems without adequate human oversight. Whether the petition and legal threats will force Meta to address the underlying issues remains uncertain. Interestingly, a South Korean media outlet reported that a local spokesperson for Meta did inform them that this is something that is “under investigation.”

That said, the organized response shows users are no longer willing to accept account suspensions without fighting back. For now, affected users continue documenting their experiences and building their case for potential legal action, hoping that collective pressure might succeed where individual appeals have failed.