Meta restores user accounts, admits they were in error after 7 On Your Side inquiry

Meta's recent crackdown on predatory behavior led to the banning of 600,000 accounts, but some users, including Charles Fossett-Lee and Diego Urbina, were mistakenly affected. Both users faced allegations of child sexual exploitation, which they denied, claiming they had not violated any rules. After their appeals were denied, they contacted 7 On Your Side for assistance, resulting in an inquiry that prompted Meta to review their cases. Meta ultimately restored their accounts, including Fossett-Lee's dog’s Instagram profile. A spokesperson for Meta stated that the removals were errors but did not explain why the initial appeals were rejected.

Fossett-Lee expressed concern that the bans negatively impacted his business, which relies heavily on social media for visibility. Urbina lamented the loss of years of memories tied to his account. Meta acknowledged that its enforcement systems can make mistakes but did not provide further details on the process.