Meta’s Oversight Board released a report in June 2026 finding that Meta’s account deactivation policies lack due process, offer insufficient clarity about violations, and provide little meaningful support for users seeking to appeal bans.
The independent governing body — which recently received funding to continue its work through 2028 — launched the investigation earlier this year after reviewing a case involving threats of violence against a journalist. While the board agreed Meta was right to permanently disable that account, the review uncovered what it called “systemic human rights concerns” and a “lack of transparency and consistency” in how Meta handles account actions more broadly.
At issue is Meta’s two-track system for penalizing accounts: one based on accumulated strikes and another for “egregious” violations that result in permanent disablement. The board said the distinction between what triggers each type of action is poorly defined and inconsistently applied across Facebook, Instagram, and other Meta platforms.
The board also criticized Meta for charging users for Meta Verified subscriptions — which promise 24/7 access to support agents — while failing to provide those users with meaningful assistance when their accounts are disabled. Multiple users contacted TechCrunch reporting bans issued without specific posts being cited, no human review, and no viable appeal path. Cases included a retired firefighter building a wellness brand, a bird rescue operation with over 60,000 followers, and a content creator with 325,000 Instagram followers whose business accounts were shut down overnight for alleged fraud with no cited violations.
Among its recommendations, the board is calling on Meta to create a user dashboard displaying account status, past violations, and appeal options. It also wants Meta to disclose the role AI plays in content moderation decisions at the time penalties are imposed.
In response, Meta said it welcomes the board’s decision and will review the recommendations, noting it will update its statement with initial responses after that review is complete.
Source: TechCrunch