We Got Banned by Facebook
We Got Banned by Facebook
Facebook validates their anti-privacy reputation by banning our page...and more
We have some startling news to share.
Our commitment to privacy and protecting our community has faced an unexpected obstacle. Recently, Facebook banned our 'Secrets of Privacy' page, citing a violation of their "Community Standards."
What prompted this drastic action? Our effort to promote a free guide designed to help people spot and avoid AI scams—a resource we created with the intention of promoting safe online practices.
Background on the Facebook Ban
Some of you are probably asking why we created a Facebook page to begin with. It’s a fair question.
Our thinking was we needed to reach a larger audience. An audience that is in particular need of receiving our insider advice and knowledge. If any of you have spent any time on there recently, you’ll know it’s full AI scams and scammers in general. Most users are sitting ducks. That meant taking the plunge and joining Facebook.
So we created a Facebook page and all was going well. It’s a simple process and we were up and running in a matter of minutes. We started uploading basic content to build out the page.
Then we decided to promote our guide on how to Spot and Avoid AI Scams. That’s when things went sideways and quickly.
How to Spot and Avoid AI Scams Guide
If you follow us on X or LinkedIn, then you know all about our AI scam protection guide. Some of our newer members probably grabbed a copy during signup.
As all of our readers know by now, AI scams are a major theme of our writing and social media updates. Our position is the general public is not prepared for the existing AI scams nor the ones that are coming as the technology gets more sophisticated. Everyone should be taking precautions today. Warren Buffet spoke about this threat recently.
That’s where our guide on how to Spot and Avoid Artificial Intelligence scams comes in. It’s a condensed version of content we’ve posted in this newsletter and on social media. It’s a quick reference guide and if you follow it, you’ll be miles ahead of your peers and the general public. Scammers will (mostly) leave you alone and move onto easier prey.
You will become a harder target.
Continue reading to find out how to get a free copy of the guide if you don’t have it already.
Back to the Facebook ban…
Here’s What Happened Next
With our Facebook page up and running and a rough marketing plan in hand, we proceeded to promote the AI scam guide. We were feeling optimistic until…
Promotion Blocked: We launched a Facebook ad campaign to spread the word about the guide. The ad was running for a few hours. We even got a few clicks. And then….
Ad Rejected: Facebook abruptly took down the ad, stating it "acted against our Community Standards." We were perplexed. How could a guide aimed at protecting users be considered a violation of any terms of use? We hardly had time to process that when…
Page Banned: In an even more surprising move, Facebook banned our entire page. A platform dedicated to privacy and user safety was abruptly silenced. We of course appealed, but as some of you may know, appealing anything on Facebook is unlikely to change the outcome. The process is automated without any real human oversight. The ban is likely permanent.
Takeaways
Why would a Big Tech social media giant, supposedly committed to community safety, suppress efforts to educate and protect its users?
Facebook, like other Big Tech giants, thrives on the vast amounts of data it collects from its users. This data fuels their advertising engine, driving enormous profits. Promoting privacy awareness directly challenges this business model. Educating users on how to protect their personal information and avoid AI scams could potentially reduce the amount of data Facebook can collect, thus impacting their bottom line.
Moreover, Facebook's platform today is heavily driven by AI-generated content designed to maximize user engagement. From tailored ads to personalized news feeds, AI plays a pivotal role in keeping users hooked. Our guide, aimed at helping users identify and avoid AI scams, could make people more skeptical of the AI-driven interactions they encounter on the platform. This heightened awareness could lead to reduced engagement, fewer clicks on ads, and ultimately, less revenue for Facebook.
In banning our page and our guide, Facebook may be prioritizing its business interests over user safety and education. This censorship raises important questions about the true priorities of Big Tech companies and their commitment to user well-being.
Wrap Up
Despite this setback, we remain undeterred. Our mission is clear: to empower you with the knowledge and tools to safeguard your privacy in an increasingly hostile digital world.
If you don’t have a copy of our guide already, send us a message and we’ll send you a link where you can instantly download it. 👇
If you have a friend or family member that needs help improving their AI scam awareness, forward them this email. 👇 If they sign up for the newsletter (for free), they’ll get an instant download link for the guide. No strings attached except for signing up for the free version of the newsletter.
Thank you for your continued support and trust in us. 🙏
Looking for help with a privacy issue or privacy concern? Chances are we’ve covered it already or will soon. Follow us on X and LinkedIn for updates on this topic and other internet privacy related topics. We’re also now on Rumble and YouTube. Subscribe today to be notified when videos are published.
Disclaimer: None of the above is to be deemed legal advice of any kind. These are *opinions* written by a privacy attorney with 15+ years of working for, with and against Big Tech and Big Data. And this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended for use in furtherance of any unlawful activity.
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