Tell HN: LinkedIn banned me because of my avatar, in the middle of my fundraise

#1

Post by scrollaway » Tue, Jul 11, 2023, 3:52 PM UTC

I've been on LinkedIn for a while with zero issues with my normal cartoon avatar (which I use absolutely everywhere). Then yesterday, in the middle of my new startup's fundraise, they hit me with an ID verification and banned my account + deleted my startup's page.

My profile is missing. I have unanswered messages with people whose emails I don't have. Potential investors etc. Friends reaching out asking me why my profile is missing.

They didn't tell me why. Still this morning I didn't know. Now they just responded with an email telling me my "appeal has been denied", and telling me that they removed my avatar for not complying with the TOS.

Zero warning, just straight to ban. This is the avatar: https://leclan.ch (it's used with the author's permission)

Re: Tell HN: LinkedIn banned me because of my avatar, in the middle of my fundraise

#2

Post by WhatDFHere » Tue, Jul 11, 2023, 3:59 PM UTC

wow - when they first banned you did you receive an email in your inbox with any details? I'm surprised as MSFT would typically provide some information like a third-party claiming IP infringement or violation of content policies

Re: Tell HN: LinkedIn banned me because of my avatar, in the middle of my fundraise

#3

Post by version_five » Tue, Jul 11, 2023, 4:02 PM UTC

What part of the TOS did it violate?

Re: Tell HN: LinkedIn banned me because of my avatar, in the middle of my fundraise

#4

Post by scrollaway » Tue, Jul 11, 2023, 4:03 PM UTC

version_five wrote: post #3

What part of the TOS did it violate?

In the follow up email (sent after the ban, and with a helpful "Please upload a new one", which I cannot do because it's restricted), they cite that "profile photos can get flagged for: (...) Not being an image of you or an actual photograph".

Re: Tell HN: LinkedIn banned me because of my avatar, in the middle of my fundraise

#5

Post by scrollaway » Tue, Jul 11, 2023, 4:04 PM UTC

WhatDFHere wrote: post #2

wow - when they first banned you did you receive an email in your inbox with any details? I'm surprised as MSFT would typically provide some information like a third-party claiming IP infringement or violation of content policies

Nothing. I just logged on and got hit with a captcha + ID verification. They just said they do it when there is a potential account compromise.

Re: Tell HN: LinkedIn banned me because of my avatar, in the middle of my fundraise

#6

Post by geoah » Tue, Jul 11, 2023, 4:07 PM UTC

Is your avatar Marten for QC? :D

Re: Tell HN: LinkedIn banned me because of my avatar, in the middle of my fundraise

#7

Post by scrollaway » Tue, Jul 11, 2023, 4:08 PM UTC

geoah wrote: post #6

Is your avatar Marten for QC? :D

Yes, good eye :) I used it for years, and eventually just asked the author to get his official permission. I treasure it.

Re: Tell HN: LinkedIn banned me because of my avatar, in the middle of my fundraise

#8

Post by rngname22 » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 8:33 PM UTC

scrollaway wrote: post #5

WhatDFHere wrote: post #2

wow - when they first banned you did you receive an email in your inbox with any details? I'm surprised as MSFT would typically provide some information like a third-party claiming IP infringement or violation of content policies

Nothing. I just logged on and got hit with a captcha + ID verification. They just said they do it when there is a potential account compromise.

Potentially someone or some bot was spamming login attempts to your account or something? Or actually got in? And their automated tools detected and triggered your account to enter a state where it required ID verif. before login is possible.

Sounds like their appeals process is broken/bugged or they just don't staff it (and auto-close / auto-reject appeals).

Re: Tell HN: LinkedIn banned me because of my avatar, in the middle of my fundraise

#9

Post by Havoc » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 8:35 PM UTC

Linkedin doesn't do avatars. They do pictures of you. You are not a cartoon character.

> Some examples of photos that shouldn't be used are:

> Avatars, emojis, or cartoons

The straight ban seems excessively harsh, but fundamentally the pic does seem to be against their policies.

https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1377087/profi...

Re: Tell HN: LinkedIn banned me because of my avatar, in the middle of my fundraise

#10

Post by nashashmi » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 8:35 PM UTC

I am guessing that the more attention you got, the more scrutiny your profile received. And thus someone reported you for violating the TOS. That someone may be a competitor??