Meta is facing widespread criticism after Facebook group administrators reported that their communities are being targeted by mass suspensions. According to numerous reports and coordinated discussions on platforms like Reddit, thousands of significant groups on Facebook, both in the United States and internationally, have been suddenly banned or disabled without clear explanations.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone confirmed that the company is aware of the problem and is actively working to correct it. “We’re aware of a technical error that impacted some Facebook Groups. We’re fixing things now,” Stone said in a statement.
Although Meta has not publicly identified the cause of these mass suspensions, many users are speculating that flawed AI-powered moderation systems may be responsible. The suspensions appear notably indiscriminate, affecting groups centered around relatively harmless interests such as parenting advice, saving tips, pet enthusiasts, gaming communities, mechanical keyboard hobbyists, and others with similarly innocuous topics.
Administrators of affected groups frequently receive automated violation notices claiming association with severe offenses such as promoting terrorism or nudity, despite vehemently denying such content was ever shared. The size of the impacted groups varies widely, ranging from smaller communities to groups comprising hundreds of thousands or even millions of members.
Forum moderators on Reddit are now advising those who have encountered these suspensions to hold off on appealing immediate bans, suggesting instead to wait for Meta to roll out a platform-wide solution. Many admins are reporting that multiple groups they manage have been simultaneously revoked.
Some impacted users with paid subscriptions to Meta’s Verified service, which includes prioritized customer support, have successfully received assistance. However, many others remain uncertain about the status of their groups and concerned about potential permanent deletion.
This issue comes shortly on the heels of similar mass-banning episodes impacting individual accounts on Facebook and Instagram, fueling further speculation about the reliability of automated moderation tools across social media platforms. Earlier this year, Pinterest and Tumblr faced similar public backlash relating to wrongful bans and overly aggressive moderation. Pinterest eventually acknowledged that an internal error had caused the suspensions, though it denied AI was involved. Tumblr, meanwhile, attributed its moderation missteps to the rollout of new content management tools without clarifying exactly how AI factored into those systems.
Meta, meanwhile, has previously declined to comment regarding similar mass banning problems observed on Instagram. In response to growing frustration, a petition demanding clearer accountability from Meta has already gathered more than 12,000 signatures, with some users indicating they may pursue legal avenues against the company.
As of now, Meta has provided limited insight into these ongoing moderation errors affecting thousands of its users and communities.
