Meta Deployed AI and It Is Killing Our Agency
Hacker News
February 21, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A high-value digital marketing agency managing millions in annual Meta ad spend is facing a perplexing challenge: their employees’ accounts are being banned immediately upon sign-up, despite following proper protocols. The issue stems from Meta’s automated security systems flagging legitimate professional activity as suspicious. This has created a frustrating loop where the agency repeatedly loses skilled staff and struggles to manage client campaigns effectively.
The problem arises when new hires create work accounts for managing ads or social media content. Within minutes to hours, these accounts are blocked, often before any ad accounts are opened or content posted. The agency has experienced this with multiple employees, including senior specialists and managers, all of whom have been banned without warning. Attempts to appeal the bans through Meta’s Account Quality dashboard or support channels have yielded little progress, as the tools required to file appeals are inaccessible once an account is blocked.
Meta’s automated identity verification system appears to be unable to distinguish between legitimate professional accounts and bot farms. This has left the agency struggling to maintain operations, with employees facing reputational damage and clients losing trust in the platform. The agency points out that similar issues have not occurred on Google or TikTok, highlighting Meta’s unique problem.
The situation underscores the growing reliance on automated systems in tech and the risks of over-reliance on AI for decision-making. While security is a priority, such systems can fail to account for legitimate professional activity, leading to significant operational disruptions. For agencies and professionals who depend on platforms like Meta for business growth, this issue raises concerns about trust, transparency, and the need for more robust support mechanisms.
To resolve the issue, the agency calls for a manual onboarding process for verified professionals, accessible human support channels, and acknowledgment from Meta that their AI systems are generating false positives. This case highlights the importance of balancing automation with human oversight to ensure fair treatment of legitimate users and maintain trust in digital platforms.
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Originally published on Hacker News on 2/21/2026