Instagram's AI-Suspected Mass Account Bans Spark User Outrage and Calls for Action

Instagram users complain of mass bans, pointing finger at AI | TechCrunch

Instagram users have for weeks complained about a significant increase in accounts being mistakenly banned or suspended. Many suspect, without direct evidence, that the issues may have to do with the use of AI automation. Reached for comment, Meta has so far not offered an on-record statement. According to a growing number of social media posts, including on sites like Reddit and X, Instagram users report that their accounts were banned even though they had not violated the company's terms of service or other policies. In addition, when they submitted an appeal to have their account reviewed, some claimed they received no response. Others pointed out that they have no other way to directly contact a member of Meta's support team, leaving them at a loss for what to do next. "I've already submitted multiple appeals, uploaded my ID, and tried reaching out to Meta through all the official channels, but I've been completely ignored. It feels like I'm shouting into a void," wrote one Reddit user (u/Dyrovicious) about having their personal Instagram account banned. (We should note that Meta offers Verified account subscriptions for creators and businesses that offer priority access to customer service.) The Instagram Reddit community's top posts are nearly entirely focused on the ban wave and have been for weeks. On X, users are flooding Instagram's replies with pleas for the company to do something about the account suspensions or, at the very least, acknowledge the problem publicly. A Change.org petition about the bans now has over 4,000 signatures. The situation has gotten so tense that some are now threatening to file a class action lawsuit against Meta over the bans. Of course, large internet companies will inevitably encounter a certain number of false positives due to their reliance on automated moderation systems, which occasionally make mistakes. However, an excessive number of bans is something that's become a more recent focus -- and one where many immediately suspect AI may be at fault. For instance, Pinterest earlier this year was facing a similar problem with mass bans, which saw users complaining that their actions and posts hadn't violated the company's policies. One group of users had also threatened legal action over the bans at the time. Pinterest in May finally admitted that the mass bans were a mistake caused by an "internal error," but wouldn't pinpoint the exact cause. The company claimed that the error was not due to AI moderation, though. In Instagram's case, the issues aren't just affecting personal use of the app but also people's livelihoods, as businesses have been caught up in the mass bans. "This is my livelihood, my full-time job. I heavily rely on Instagram for leads," wrote one Reddit user (u/Paigejust) about their suspension. "This ban has directly affected my business and all of the hard work and branding that I've spent countless hours pouring into my business, my gym, and my students," a gym owner on Reddit (u/CourtShaw) shared. Without access to internal comapny data, it's hard from the outside to tell whether recent bans represent an uptick in the number of typical false positives or not. To date, Meta has not publicly acknowledged the issue. In addition, some of the Instagram users affected have reported that they're being falsely banned for serious offenses, including CSE (child sexual exploitation). They pointed out that this is a career and reputation-ruining accusation, leaving them highly concerned.

What's going on with Instagram's mysterious account bans?

Instagram users have reported an increase in mistaken account bans and suspensions for weeks. The cause is undetermined, but many users suspect AI automation is the source of the errors. Meta has not released an official statement regarding the situation. Social media posts on platforms like Reddit and X show that Instagram users claim their accounts were banned despite no policy violations. Users also report receiving no response after submitting appeals. According to some users, there is no direct way to contact Meta's support team. One Reddit user stated, "I've already submitted multiple appeals, uploaded my ID, and tried reaching out to Meta through all the official channels, but I've been completely ignored. It feels like I'm shouting into a void," regarding the ban of their personal Instagram account. Top posts in the Instagram Reddit community have focused on the ban wave for weeks. X users are also posting on Instagram's replies, asking the company to address the account suspensions, and a Change.org petition about the bans has accumulated over 4,000 signatures. Some users are considering filing a class action lawsuit against Meta because of the bans. While large internet companies inevitably encounter false positives with automated moderation systems, the recent increase in bans has led to suspicions about AI involvement. Earlier this year, Pinterest faced similar mass bans. Pinterest admitted in May that those bans resulted from an "internal error" and specified that AI moderation was not the cause. Instagram's bans affect both personal accounts and businesses. A Reddit user stated, "This is my livelihood, my full-time job. I heavily rely on Instagram for leads." Another Reddit user, u/CourtShaw, a gym owner, shared, "This ban has directly affected my business and all of the hard work and branding that I've spent countless hours pouring into my business, my gym, and my students." The scale of the recent bans compared to typical false positives is difficult to ascertain without access to internal company data. As of now, Meta has not publicly acknowledged the issue.

Meta faces backlash after Instagram bans user accounts without cause or support

Over 7,700 people have signed a petition demanding process reform, with some threatening legal action against Meta. Instagram has banned several accounts without any warning or explanation. Several users have taken to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, slamming the app for a sudden ban and questioning the AI moderation system. Many of the users have been accused of violating the platform's terms of service or other policies. However, they claimed that nothing of the sort happened. This has sparked outrage on social media platforms. A growing number of Instagram users report that their accounts have been disabled despite not violating the company's terms of service or other policies. A few users have been falsely accused of serious offences, including CSE (child sexual exploitation), raising concerns over the platform's guidelines. Additionally, their request to review the account has also not received any response from the company. Some even complained that, despite uploading valid ID proofs, their appeals have been completely ignored. Many users have also claimed that there is no alternative way to contact Meta's support team, leaving them confused and frustrated. Not only on social media platforms but over 7,700 signatures have also been registered on the Change.org petition to change the process for Instagram accounts that are disabled. While this issue remains unaddressed, users suspect that the faulty AI moderation may be the reason for the buggy suspension of Instagram accounts. Some users have even threatened to file a class-action lawsuit against Meta over the bans.