Ask HN: IG banned me over my ex's retracted claim on a dog photo. Human review?

5 points by smnrg 235 days ago | 7 comments

My Instagram account was disabled after my spouse (we are parting ways) filed a copyright claim over a 6-year-old photo of my dog.

I have since spoken with him, and he has formally retracted the claim through Meta's official channels. Despite this, my account remains disabled. Every appeal I submit is lost in an automated loop.

The problem has escalated beyond the initial account. It appears my identity is now permanently flagged. Any new account I create—regardless of the email, device, or network—is automatically disabled within minutes. The enforcement action is “stuck,” persisting even though its justification has been nullified by the claimant's retraction.

I understand actions like this one are born out of pain. However, this impulsiveness has severed my only connection to family members I'd just reconnected with after more than a decade. I rejoined Instagram for this very reason, and now I'm locked out during an already difficult time.

Case ID from email alias for appeal: aazri45mhxuime (or contact form is on my website in the bio for more info)

I'm looking for a way to escalate this to a human for a manual review. Has anyone found a successful path (e.g., Attorney General complaints, privacy requests, specific contacts) to get Meta to re-evaluate a ban when their automated correction process has clearly failed?

WarOnPrivacy 235 days ago |

disclaimer: zero instagram experience

From <1yo results on setting up an anonymous instagram account: Different email address, different phone number and I'll add setting up from a different device and IP.

    Lots of email options, like disroot.org.
    If your phone takes a physical sim, you can buy a new prepaid starter.
        Or sign up with a MVNO like anveo.com and get a forwarding number
        (incoming text only w/ that last)
    A public library would connect you with a different device and IP

If you succeed, there may be some risk of identification when you add family to your contacts. I'm not savvy enough to guide you thru that tho.

ref: https://kagi.com/search?q=How+to+set+up+an+anonymous+instagr...

smnrg 235 days ago | |

This is useful info and POV. Thanks so much for the pointers. Everything is exhausting right now, including using basic tools that became de facto behemoths of communications.

I have been trying a combination of those—though the app doesn't like GrapheneOS either, I suspect. I transitioned most of my overseas family to Signal and other channels, though some of them just won't—and I understand that.

P.S. Happy to see another Kagi user help here. :)

wmf 235 days ago |

http://oversightboardappeals.com/submit/ ? Apologies if you already used this.

smnrg 235 days ago | |

Didn't know about this. Thanks! Although, as paradoxically expected, in order to use it you need an active IG account. Which is... the main problem. I was also advised to write to the California AG.

JojoFatsani 235 days ago |

You don’t need instagram. Just unplug and move on

smnrg 235 days ago | |

I understand the sentiment. In principle, I agree with conscious use of these tools.

In this specific case, however, it wasn't for general browsing. After living overseas for more than a decade, you realize that, for some people, these platforms function as essential infrastructure. I can't force my old aunt on Signal or Matrix or whatever. It had become the only channel to call my 76yo uncle. Family I'd just reconnected with. This is especially true during a divorce with far away aging family members.

My post is less about my need for Instagram and more about the systemic problem: what recourse does a person have when a company's automated moderation fails and the original reason for the ban is proven invalid? That's the technical/procedural question I'm hoping to find an answer for.

mattwilsonn888 235 days ago | |

As if you can make that judgement for others. Don't do this next time.