An Open Letter to Facebook
14th March, 2012
Subject: For security reasons my account is temporarily locked.
Dear Facebook,
Last Tuesday, that’s on 6th March 2012 evening when i logged in to my Facebook account, I was greeted with an unpleasant message: “For security reasons your account is temporarily unavailable”. Since i have allowed subscribers to subscribe me. I had a tremendous increase in people subscribing me since i blog at Most Viral Media and due to the viral effect of my creative profile cover art over the past few weeks. And Facebook considered it as something fishy and wanted to verify the authenticity of my profile and temporarily locked the account.
I would say its a good move from Facebook’s side for improving the security measures. But unfortunately, what came next was less than amusing.
- I got a checkpoint saying, For security reasons your account is temporarily locked. (See below image).
- Then i proceeded by clicking the continue button, Where i was asked to verify my mobile number which was associated with my account. It took more than 7 hours to receive the verification code.
- Once done with the mobile verification. Facebook asked me to upload any Government issued ID for profile ID review. Well this made me bit chaotic, Why all of a sudden such a verification.
- Well i proceeded by uploading a copy of my passport. Once done with it, i got a message saying, Thanks for uploading your ID, provided with a log out button. (See image below)
Hmm.. 2 days pass, Still no reply via email id. Well now i started feeling nervous about the entire process. And so on the third and the fourth day too gone like that. I searched the web trying to find some help to get my account fix. I couldn’t even find a single support number neither any live chat service care.
Well then i researched on all possible ways to contact Facebook. Finally, I found few practically hidden option of sending message to Facebook support. So I sent couple of messages explaining the situation. But by then almost a week passed. And guess what? I still haven’t got any response!
As a conclusion, An avid 6 years old Facebook user just got pissed off because of its new profile verification process. And i would also say that Facebook’s current identification process makes NO sense at all due to such a delayed process. The fact that you don’t provide any live support or even don’t bother to provide any timely answers to the support requests, makes it even worse. Yeah this has resulted me with no other choice other than publish this open letter.
Facebook, i kindly request you to do the needful as soon as possible and help me get my account back and get me connected to my friends, family members and loved ones.
Update (31st March 2012) - Finally after 25 days my account is back. Thank You Facebook.
Yatin
March 14, 2012
Contact Fb office in India
Alok Kumar
March 14, 2012
Do you know that like twitter Facebook is also going to start verified members for some profile. Like in twitter account we have a tick mark next to the twitter name of verified people that may be of celebrity. Facebook is also implementing same and this process will involve verifying the account with a government proof. So after that these profiles will have a verified badge.
This verified profile status will be given to celebrities and those person whose account is likely to be confused with others account.
It may be possible that after seeing that you have a huge fan following Facebook decided to give you a verified status. Because Govt ID verification was introduced for that.
So have your finger crossed and keep trying to get in touch with Facebook through email.
Manoj
March 14, 2012
Hi Alok, Welcome to Most Viral Media. Yeah even i heard about the news. But Why this Kolaveri Di… by making me stay away from facebook for almost 9 days.. rather than they could have possibly done in 2-3 days.
Michel
March 23, 2012
Same problem here. I’ve uploaded my driver’s license and after a week have no answers.
Joan
March 27, 2012
I had the same problem, went through all the steps you have but it did not take that long to get back on facebook. good luck
Steve
March 30, 2012
Same problem here THE SAME! WORD TO WORD! FACEBOOK SUCKS!! THAT’S ALL THERE IS TO IT.. I gave up and made a new account and started posting porn pics and guess what, they never deleted my account after that.. Go figure. They deleted my account when I had family pics and my kids on there, so I made a new account and put up porn and it stays.. what gives FB.. I guess no one cares when you have all the money in the world and us little people are the ones who put them there. So, I think I’ll be crazy to keep supporting them so they can continue to piss on the people who made them what they are today.. whateva good riddens..
NYOB
May 10, 2012
They have just demanded all that ID from me, to start an account. I have never before used FB, and really have a certain dislike for them, but in order to do my professional music business, it is now essential. I am not even interested in having a social life on FB, but merely want to have a page for music business.
I have NO INTENTION of giving my ID to FB or any social network. Not my SS#, passport #, phone # age, address or anything else! It is not their right to ask for it, and I believe it should be contested by masses of us, as an infringement of our privacy, an infringement of our constitutional rights.
It is an invasion, the equivalent of an invasion of our homes, when we have not been charged with any crime that might give cause for investigation.
On mere principle, and because this is a growing practice, of agencies of all kinds to override the constitution, we should NOW begin to stem this tide, and refuse. It will be too late if people give in to FB.
Please, let’s not accept slavery to these institutions! We have rights.
And FB is a frighteningly huge institution.
m krishnappa vijayanagara
February 1, 2013
For security reasons your account is temporarily locked
If this account reflects your real name and personal information, please help us verify it.
in face book
9900235713