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When Facebook Disables Your Fan Page

thecoolhunter.net

11–20 of 22 posts

Re: When Facebook Disables Your Fan Page

#11
If there's infringing content, then isn't that what DMCA notices are for? And shouldn't Facebook simply remove the offending specific piece of content, than rather an entire page like that? And shouldn't it provide warning in advance, with an opportunity to contest it?

The DMCA law establishes processes between content creators and websites, but leaves websites free to determine the processes (or lack thereof) between themselves and the users who submitted the content. I.e., a single photo can result in termination of your entire fanpage without warning.

As more and more people rely on companies like Facebook, Google, etc. to host their content, consumers are going to need protections against arbitrary actions by companies, lacking due process.

Re: When Facebook Disables Your Fan Page

#12

From their post, they're complaining about Facebook disabling their fan page without explanation while littering the same item with unattributed images. I've had work in the past posted to their site without attribution and it was a headache to get them to either attribute it or remove it (they chose the latter). It seems rather obvious why their Facebook account was disabled.

This misses the point. There's still no excuse for Facebook not to communicate the problem BEFORE deleting the page, and to not clearly state which material infringed and to provide RECOURSE.

Facebook pulls this shit on entirely innocent customers as well. My friend had an all-original-content page set up for a movie he was making, and when he got to 10,000 fans Facebook deleted it. They gave no excuse and no contact information. It would never have been reinstated if I hadn't known someone at Facebook. He NEVER received an explanation or apology, and to top it off he was a paying advertiser on Facebook.

Facebook disregards its customers, steals from them, and then hides. It's that simple. That's why you don't put your business's fate in the hands of a third party, especially one as underhanded as Facebook. These guys have a Web site, and that's what they should be focused on. As long as businesses keep toadying up to Facebook, they reward Facebook for shoddy treatment and undermine EVERY business's Web presence.

Re: When Facebook Disables Your Fan Page

#13

If there's infringing content, then isn't that what DMCA notices are for? And shouldn't Facebook simply remove the offending specific piece of content, than rather an entire page like that? And shouldn't it provide warning in advance, with an opportunity to contest it? The DMCA law establishes processes between content creators and websites, but leaves websites free to determine the processes (or lack thereof) betwee…

Facebook is under no obligation to continue hosting your fan page. The DMCA only prescribes upper limits to the liability sites like Facebook have to copyright infringement on their website.

> lacking due process

Due process is a constitutional right that only pertains to citizens' interactions with the Unites States Government and state and local governments.

Re: When Facebook Disables Your Fan Page

#14

I had a Facebook fan page with over 100,000 fans that was deleted suddenly for no reason. After around 3-4 weeks I got the page reinstated by using some contact links and email addresses I found by searching Google. Facebook said we had posted inappropriate content but I was the only one with admin access and I'm absolutely 100% sure that never happened. Also the page was set up so users couldn't post images. I think…

Users can report content on FB (photos) as inappropriate (sexual, copyright, violence, etc). They almost certainly have some automatic system behind that automatically deletes content that receives enough "votes" (or maybe votes from trust-worthy users). I'm guessing that this is what happened to you.

I think that something similar (they banned our whole domain) also happened to us last year (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2527955), and I still don't know who fixed it or if it was just a glitch.

You will note that I've used a lot of "I think"s, there's a reason for that, nobody (except for FB obviously) actually knows the rules of the game :/

Re: When Facebook Disables Your Fan Page

#15
post #13

If there's infringing content, then isn't that what DMCA notices are for? And shouldn't Facebook simply remove the offending specific piece of content, than rather an entire page like that? And shouldn't it provide warning in advance, with an opportunity to contest it? The DMCA law establishes processes between content creators and websites, but leaves websites free to determine the processes (or lack thereof) betwee…

Facebook is under no obligation to continue hosting your fan page. The DMCA only prescribes upper limits to the liability sites like Facebook have to copyright infringement on their website. > lacking due process Due process is a constitutional right that only pertains to citizens' interactions with the Unites States Government and state and local governments.

Perhaps in this era of political speech being hosted on the servers of various third parties, such rights should be extended.

Re: When Facebook Disables Your Fan Page

#16
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Facebook is under no obligation to continue hosting your fan page. The DMCA only prescribes upper limits to the liability sites like Facebook have to copyright infringement on their website. > lacking due process Due process is a constitutional right that only pertains to citizens' interactions with the Unites States Government and state and local governments.

Perhaps in this era of political speech being hosted on the servers of various third parties, such rights should be extended.

Considering that there's no constitutional basis for even applying due process to the private sector, I think you're going to have a hard time convincing anyone that's a good idea.

Re: When Facebook Disables Your Fan Page

#17
post #13

If there's infringing content, then isn't that what DMCA notices are for? And shouldn't Facebook simply remove the offending specific piece of content, than rather an entire page like that? And shouldn't it provide warning in advance, with an opportunity to contest it? The DMCA law establishes processes between content creators and websites, but leaves websites free to determine the processes (or lack thereof) betwee…

Facebook is under no obligation to continue hosting your fan page. The DMCA only prescribes upper limits to the liability sites like Facebook have to copyright infringement on their website. > lacking due process Due process is a constitutional right that only pertains to citizens' interactions with the Unites States Government and state and local governments.

I think OP meant, "According to the DMCA, can't Facebook get away with just removing the content, warning you first, etc". We all understand they can do whatever they want and are not subject to the constitution in the way a government is. They could delete everyone's page, every single user's, without giving a single reason. But its probably not smart to. Hence we are discussing whether this is an intelligent move on their part, or if there are other reasons for this behavior.

Re: When Facebook Disables Your Fan Page

#18
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps in this era of political speech being hosted on the servers of various third parties, such rights should be extended.

Considering that there's no constitutional basis for even applying due process to the private sector, I think you're going to have a hard time convincing anyone that's a good idea.

How does whether the law supports something influence whether modifying the law is a good idea or not?

Re: When Facebook Disables Your Fan Page

#19
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Facebook is under no obligation to continue hosting your fan page. The DMCA only prescribes upper limits to the liability sites like Facebook have to copyright infringement on their website. > lacking due process Due process is a constitutional right that only pertains to citizens' interactions with the Unites States Government and state and local governments.

Perhaps in this era of political speech being hosted on the servers of various third parties, such rights should be extended.

FFS, in the past political speech would be rejected by all sorts of publishers. This isn't a new issue.

Just as folk were then free to set up their own press to churn out leaflets, so too are folk now free to host their own content. In fact, the situation is probably a lot brighter now.

Re: When Facebook Disables Your Fan Page

#20

From their post, they're complaining about Facebook disabling their fan page without explanation while littering the same item with unattributed images. I've had work in the past posted to their site without attribution and it was a headache to get them to either attribute it or remove it (they chose the latter). It seems rather obvious why their Facebook account was disabled.

I'm going to have to back you up here. I've had my own work published to their site without attribution - although it was a long long time ago - and odds are, it's this same process that got them on hot water again. I'm empathetic, but I'm certain they're playing a little dumb as to what's going on here.
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