Instagram suddenly flagging posts with products as "counterfeit" items for many

Instagram users are raising alarms this week as the platform appears to be incorrectly flagging posts and stories as “counterfeit” items. Many small businesses, creators, and resellers say their accounts are being unfairly restricted or penalized for posts that don’t violate any rules.

I found a number of fresh posts about the problem on Reddit within a span of a day or so. Posts show Instagram removing content and slapping accounts with restrictions, often limiting their reach to non-followers. “My account has also had a restriction applied so my post cannot be shown to none followers,” wrote one user on Reddit. Others say they’ve been kicked off Instagram’s Creator Marketplace despite selling legitimate products.

Here’s what users are seeing after their posts are being removed:

“F**k this shit all my accounts are affected,” wrote one user. Another added, “Definitely nothing counterfeit. I’ve also been removed from creator marketplace over it. It’s ridiculous.”

The problem seems to hit resellers hardest. Users posting luxury-inspired items like watches, sneakers, clothes, or jewelry report sudden takedowns. But even unrelated posts are getting caught in the crossfire. A makeup artist shared that 13 of her 16 posts were flagged for “counterfeiting,” despite showcasing her own work. “How am I counterfeiting my own likeness?” she wrote. “They need to fix this s**t.”

Timing points to a possible glitch in Instagram’s moderation system. One theory is that Instagram rolled out an updated algorithm to crack down on fake goods, but the filters are misfiring. Meta’s existing counterfeit policy bans replicas of branded items, but there’s no mention of taking down posts featuring original products, vintage goods, or inspired designs.

Frustration is boiling over as users say appeals go unanswered. “They never make any statements about how they see it and hear us or that they’re working on it,” said the makeup artist. “I feel like we’re just b**ching to the void here.” Paid subscribers aren’t spared either. “I pay for Meta verified and they still mess up like this and put me in Instagram jail,” one user wrote.

Some argue the platform’s priorities are skewed. “Instagram lets everyone post AI content or porn-like content.. but we are getting Fd dry,” wrote another user. One person claimed their Pokemon collection posts triggered takedowns, costing them a business deal. “It’s literally a bot site at this point,” they added.

Meta’s guide on counterfeiting says it uses “proactive measures” to spot fakes, but offers no clarity on recent errors. The company hasn’t publicly addressed the surge in flags. For now, users are left tagging Instagram in posts or venting online. 

We’ll keep a tab on the situation and will update the article if and when there are any further developments.

Featured image credits: stuntman_stokes / Instagram