Meta has received reports from Instagram users stating their accounts were suspended for alleged violations relating to child sexual exploitation. The affected users say they did not post any such material and believe the suspensions were made in error.
Some individuals had their accounts restored following media intervention, while others experienced repeated suspensions. Users reported losing access to photos, personal messages, and business contacts due to the bans.
Meta's policies on child sexual exploitation have been updated three times since December. The company stated that in July, it removed 635,000 accounts across Instagram and Facebook for sharing or attempting to share such material, and it applies its enforcement measures to protect children.
Meta has not confirmed whether recent policy updates are linked to the reported account suspensions.
A petition with over 36,000 signatures has been organised, requesting that Meta address the suspensions and review its moderation process.
