Tag: Facebook

How I got my latest 30-day Facebook ban

I scored another 30-day Facebook ban that served no purpose.

On July 14 Facebook rewarded me with another 30-day ban for posting this story and accompanying comment, which apparently breached their “Community Standards”.

20180714 Pink Apostates post gets me a 30 day ban on Facebook

I was not actually told which part of my post breached their standards, so am unclear about what I shouldn’t write in future.

These insane 30-day bans make no sense, and with no practical appeal process the entire exercise is a complete farce.

Facebook’s hypocrisy when it comes to the word “dyke”.

You can have the word “dyke” in a page name on Facebook but don’t mention it.

There’s a story on ABC News about Facebook not coping with the word “dyke”:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-06/facebook-banning-algorithims-block-lesbians-from-using-dyke/8676284

There’s a page on Facebook called “Dykes on Bikes Melbourne“.

If you point out to Facebook that this page has the word Dyke in it, you’ll be in breach of the Facebook Community Standards:

Dykes on Bikes Melbourne

which will result in a block on posting for a 30-day period:

30 day ban

Seems more than a little hypocritical to allow the word “dyke” in a page on Facebook but not let people talk about it.

Facebook playing the man, not the ball.

Facebook are slapping ludicrous 30-day bans on my account. I am talking to their PR agency about it.

Last night Facebook slapped another 30-day ban on my account for sharing this photo of a graffiti’d bill-board of Jason Ball, candidate for the Australian Greens in the Melbourne seat of Higgins.

 

I have been advised to contact Facebook’s PR agency N2N in Sydney to resolve this matter:

N2N

So I sent them an email and await their reply:

From: Michael Barnett
Date: 17 June 2016 at 10:50
Subject: Fwd: Facebook repeatedly banning my account for 30-day periods
To: facebook@n2n.com.au
Cc: …

Hi Jack,
Thank you for taking my call.
Below is the email I sent to your main email address.
As I said on the phone, I run the Facebook group “Proud to be a Second-Class Australian“, that I started in 2009. This group has an immediate reach of over 3,000 people, all keen equality advocates, including a range of media contacts and other high-profile community members.
I have documented two of my previous Facebook bans here:
As you can see, there is no logic for the bans on my account given the content posted.
I can be contacted on ….
I hope you can assist in a prompt resolution of this unpleasant matter.
Regards,
Michael.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Michael Barnett
Date: 17 June 2016 at 10:30
Subject: Facebook repeatedly banning my account for 30-day periods
To: info@n2n.com.au
Cc: …

Dear N2N,

I write to you as a well-known activist in the LGBTIQ community in Australia.
I have just received a 30-day ban from Facebook for sharing a photo of a bill-board of Green’s candidate Jason Ball graffiti’d with the word FAG on it.  Please see attachments.
I have received 2 similar 30-day bans in the last year for similar issues, ie sharing content raising awareness of hate content.
I find this response from Facebook outrageous, especially as I have no recourse.  It damages my mental health and causes me great personal distress.
I am in constant contact with the LGBTIQ media who are very keen to understand why I am receiving these 30-day bans for sharing content that is deemed to be unacceptable, yet is simply raising awareness of attacks on LGBTIQ people.
I will follow this email up with a phone-call to your office.
Sincerely,
Michael Barnett.

UPDATE: N2N managed to get my 30-day ban overturned and my Facebook account was restored to normal the morning of Saturday June 18.