Facebook lets me back in…

I just received this email.

I answer Mike Arrington and several others in a video that now is up at http://www.mogulus.com/robertscoble.

UPDATE: In the video I cover a whole bunch of topics and take questions from the live audience that was there when filmed. Also, I told the audience that I am not using any Facebook data outside of Facebook and will delete the test account we used on Plaxo to do the tests.


Hi Robert,

Facebook’s Terms of Use broadly prohibits the running of automated scripts on the site because they can be used to commit malicious attacks, send spam, and generally try to undermine the integrity of the site. When our systems detect these types of scripts, they immediately disable the account of the user responsible as a preventative measure. This is what happened in your case – your automated script was exhibiting the same behavior as other malicious scripts that we have blocked before so your account was disabled.

Our standard process for handling cases when an account is disabled for security violations is to allow a user to appeal and remedy the situation. This is the process we have followed here. Since you contacted us and have agreed not to run the script again, we have reactivated your account. You should now be able to log in with your normal email and password. In the future, please refrain from running these types of scripts again.

Thanks,

Jerry
User Operations
Facebook

Comments

  1. So what did you do? It seems the only way you can delete your FB account!

    You can only ‘disable’ it and I have a problem not being able to delete my data/profile! So why not get them to do it?

    When I want to leave I might try it then….:-P

  2. So what did you do? It seems the only way you can delete your FB account!

    You can only ‘disable’ it and I have a problem not being able to delete my data/profile! So why not get them to do it?

    When I want to leave I might try it then….:-P

  3. [...] you may or may not know, recently the tech set were up in arms over the ScobleGate controversy because Robert Scoble’s Facebook account was temporarily suspended due to a Beta [...]

  4. [...] Ora, Stefano paragona in modo efficace e suggestivo i molti social software ai quali siamo “abbonati” ad alberghi che ci ospitano gentilmente (e gratuitamente..) ma che possono anche cacciarci in ogni momento, come pare stia capitando a qualcuno su Facebook. [...]

  5. [...] 9 January, 2008 in Facebook, google, internet, social media, website Tags: Dataportability, Facebook, google, Scoble Just seen that Facebook and Google have signed up to dataportability.org, wonder if this is anything to do with Scoble’s recent adventures with Facebook! [...]

  6. Alan Strangis says:

    Now that FB and Google have joined DataPortability.org, I hope none of my friends are spammers (who must be DROOLING at the possibilities).

    I personally LIKE the walled garden of Facebook, because I only use it to communicate, organize events and have fun with people I know in real life… you know, the thing that FB was designed for, and made it useful.

  7. Alan Strangis says:

    Now that FB and Google have joined DataPortability.org, I hope none of my friends are spammers (who must be DROOLING at the possibilities).

    I personally LIKE the walled garden of Facebook, because I only use it to communicate, organize events and have fun with people I know in real life… you know, the thing that FB was designed for, and made it useful.

  8. I have created a website for people who have been Facebook Disabled who are frustrated with the lack of customer support. This site is created as a community site for people who post their current issues with facebook.com

    http://www.facebookdisable.com/
    http://www.facebookdisable.com/forum/

  9. I have created a website for people who have been Facebook Disabled who are frustrated with the lack of customer support. This site is created as a community site for people who post their current issues with facebook.com

    http://www.facebookdisable.com/
    http://www.facebookdisable.com/forum/

  10. [...] company that has been integrating functionality from top social media sites and also helping top bloggers get kicked off Facebook is allegedly mulling over an offer from “the giant [...]

  11. [...] Scoble gets kicked off Facebook for running a script – uses a script – then gets back in. Warner Bros.’ Music Available DRM-free from Amazon MP3 Sony BMG music to be available DRM [...]

  12. riggald says:

    “I could have written down your email address and then hand typed it back into Outlook. Would that make you feel better?”

    Yes – because it’s more time-consuming, so there is a natural limit to how much of this you can do, and because it’s much more of hassle, so there’s a much smaller chance of you bothering to do it.

    Take both together, and there’s a *significantly* lower chances of you harvesting it. And the only reason I put it in a walled garden was that the garden was walled.

    If I wanted my details widely published, I could have done that in the first place.

  13. riggald says:

    “I could have written down your email address and then hand typed it back into Outlook. Would that make you feel better?”

    Yes – because it’s more time-consuming, so there is a natural limit to how much of this you can do, and because it’s much more of hassle, so there’s a much smaller chance of you bothering to do it.

    Take both together, and there’s a *significantly* lower chances of you harvesting it. And the only reason I put it in a walled garden was that the garden was walled.

    If I wanted my details widely published, I could have done that in the first place.

  14. riggald — sorry but you are full of it. I typed 5,000 names and emails in a couple of hours. No biggie. And if you do not want your stuff to get out, why put your email on your profile anyway? Just force people to message you on Facebook.

  15. riggald — sorry but you are full of it. I typed 5,000 names and emails in a couple of hours. No biggie. And if you do not want your stuff to get out, why put your email on your profile anyway? Just force people to message you on Facebook.

  16. [...] maintenance. Oh, Facebook, don’t disable my account like Robert Scoble. (Luckily he managed to reinstate it back!) Anyone having this kind of error [...]

  17. Max says:

    Facebook have said the following “Your account was disabled because you engaged in behavior other users reported as harassing in nature. It is a violation of Facebook’s Terms of Use to harass users on the site, whether through unsolicited messages, friend requests, pokes or other features. We will not be able to reactivate your account for any reason. This decision is final.”

    All I was doing was sending messages who users who sent me messages and now facebook will not reactivate my account.

  18. Max says:

    Facebook have said the following “Your account was disabled because you engaged in behavior other users reported as harassing in nature. It is a violation of Facebook’s Terms of Use to harass users on the site, whether through unsolicited messages, friend requests, pokes or other features. We will not be able to reactivate your account for any reason. This decision is final.”

    All I was doing was sending messages who users who sent me messages and now facebook will not reactivate my account.

  19. Ahmed Yehia says:

    I have the same problem as Max..
    I dont know what to do, or who to complaint to

    I felt shocked when FB disabled my account. it has very rare photos for me, and all my contacts and messages, with no backup.

    I sent to disabled@facebook.com and appeal@facebook.com, but havnt got replies.

    I need my things in the account.. Can anyone help me get back the stuff in the account? or even activate the account back?

    I’m in a social mess now :( I dont know what to do

  20. Ahmed Yehia says:

    I have the same problem as Max..
    I dont know what to do, or who to complaint to

    I felt shocked when FB disabled my account. it has very rare photos for me, and all my contacts and messages, with no backup.

    I sent to disabled@facebook.com and appeal@facebook.com, but havnt got replies.

    I need my things in the account.. Can anyone help me get back the stuff in the account? or even activate the account back?

    I’m in a social mess now :( I dont know what to do

  21. Mike says:

    I don’t understand that what exactly the facebook’s privacy policies are?? First they tell that we should not tell anybody’s activites and then they only tell it to everyone via their news feed application.

  22. Mike says:

    I don’t understand that what exactly the facebook’s privacy policies are?? First they tell that we should not tell anybody’s activites and then they only tell it to everyone via their news feed application.

  23. [...] el reconocido periodista Robert Scoble, quien contó en su Blog cómo fue suspendido y luego reincorporado en el servicio de Facebook. Es interesante remarcar que Facebook ofrece servicios de similares [...]

  24. [...] he was told that he was running a script which is against Facebook’s terms and conditions. His account was reinstated, but Scoble does less Facebooking these [...]

  25. alejandra says:

    robert, my count is disabled and i dont know what to do, i want it back! please help me! tell me exactly waht you did!

  26. alejandra says:

    robert, my count is disabled and i dont know what to do, i want it back! please help me! tell me exactly waht you did!

  27. [...] story draws to an end, as Facebook accepts Scoble’s apology and lets him back in. The issues go far wider than Facebook, though, and will continue to loom large in the coming [...]

  28. saint.id.au says:

    How long was your account disabled for?!

    I was sending out messages to people within my university network and I was thinking that it was OK because they were in my network. I didn’t notice the violation warning until it was too late

  29. saint.id.au says:

    How long was your account disabled for?!

    I was sending out messages to people within my university network and I was thinking that it was OK because they were in my network. I didn’t notice the violation warning until it was too late

  30. Jenn says:

    I was disabled 3 days ago. I got one email frm them the day it happened saying something like they were looking it to my inquire. Have not heard any thing scens. I would love to know what else I cna do to get soem answers on to reopening my account. How long do I have to wait to here back form some one?

  31. Jenn says:

    I was disabled 3 days ago. I got one email frm them the day it happened saying something like they were looking it to my inquire. Have not heard any thing scens. I would love to know what else I cna do to get soem answers on to reopening my account. How long do I have to wait to here back form some one?

  32. [...] has reinstated Robert Scoble&8217s 5,000 friend account per the following email and caveat …http://scobleizer.com/2008/01/03/facebook-lets-me-back-in/Weak laws, politics worsen Taal woes – Manila TimesSince 2002, he has been growing tilapia in fish [...]

  33. joanna bieieirnat says:

    I read somewhere else that it helps to be polite in order to get a response from facebook! frankly I don’t see why I should be- I’ve done NOTHING wrong and have had noo warning that my account would be disabled! they reckon i have to be part of a high school network, but I’ve never had a network [just like a billion other people!]
    I’m not having this.
    I’ve sent them a rather pressing email and am planning on carrying on doing that if I don’t get a reply within the next week!haha

    heres my email do you think it’s too rude? do you think I’ll get a reply?or even get my account reactivated??

    —————————
    My account has been disabled because I have not joined a high school network.

    However, I have never belonged to any network, ever since I joined facebook, many, many months ago- and have NEVER had any sort warning from Facebook that this might mean my account would be disabled! I feel very angry as if I had been made aware that belonging to ‘no network’ [just like many other users on 'facebook', and as something very easy to do] meant I would consequuently lose my account, I would most certainly have joined one.

    I therefore feel disabling my account so suddenly and arbitrarily as an apparant punishment for something I did not even know I was doing wrong, is very harsh and drastic behaviour especially for a ‘social networking site’ created for use by general, ordinary people. Perhaps such drastic behaviour should be made clearer in your ‘Terms of Use’, as I am sure you are aware your youngest users are 13 years old?

    I would like my account back as soon as possible, and if it is so vital, I will gladly join a network, but please give me every opportunity to do this!

    In future I suggest you are curteous enough to send your members due warning that their account will be disabled, and the precise reason why- in order to allow them to do something about it.
    ——————————————

  34. joanna bieieirnat says:

    I read somewhere else that it helps to be polite in order to get a response from facebook! frankly I don’t see why I should be- I’ve done NOTHING wrong and have had noo warning that my account would be disabled! they reckon i have to be part of a high school network, but I’ve never had a network [just like a billion other people!]
    I’m not having this.
    I’ve sent them a rather pressing email and am planning on carrying on doing that if I don’t get a reply within the next week!haha

    heres my email do you think it’s too rude? do you think I’ll get a reply?or even get my account reactivated??

    —————————
    My account has been disabled because I have not joined a high school network.

    However, I have never belonged to any network, ever since I joined facebook, many, many months ago- and have NEVER had any sort warning from Facebook that this might mean my account would be disabled! I feel very angry as if I had been made aware that belonging to ‘no network’ [just like many other users on 'facebook', and as something very easy to do] meant I would consequuently lose my account, I would most certainly have joined one.

    I therefore feel disabling my account so suddenly and arbitrarily as an apparant punishment for something I did not even know I was doing wrong, is very harsh and drastic behaviour especially for a ‘social networking site’ created for use by general, ordinary people. Perhaps such drastic behaviour should be made clearer in your ‘Terms of Use’, as I am sure you are aware your youngest users are 13 years old?

    I would like my account back as soon as possible, and if it is so vital, I will gladly join a network, but please give me every opportunity to do this!

    In future I suggest you are curteous enough to send your members due warning that their account will be disabled, and the precise reason why- in order to allow them to do something about it.
    ——————————————

  35. John Maas says:

    I’m having the same problem as everyone else. I’m on week 6 waiting to get an answer!

  36. John Maas says:

    I’m having the same problem as everyone else. I’m on week 6 waiting to get an answer!

  37. [...] violation of the terms of service, and after much debate in online and mainstream media, Facebook reinstated his account 24 hours [...]

  38. Ron Andrew says:

    Help i cant open my Facebook im disable..

  39. Ron Andrew says:

    Help i cant open my Facebook im disable..

  40. Ron Andrew says:

    what do i do? im disable.. pls help me. thx

  41. Ron Andrew says:

    what do i do? im disable.. pls help me. thx

  42. Dan says:

    I’ve been disabled for 2 weeks now too. I believe it is for adding too many friends. What kind of social networking site disables a user for adding friends? Isn’t that the point of social networking? I really dont understand why Facebook worries about that. Also, I dont understand why they dont respond to emails sent to them (I’ve sent emails to appeals, disabled, and info@facebook.com). Do they even have a right to disable an account on these grounds? I dont see anything in their TOS that states that adding friends is against the rules. Does anyone have any suggestion on how to get my facebook account back? Will a lawsuit help?

  43. Dan says:

    I’ve been disabled for 2 weeks now too. I believe it is for adding too many friends. What kind of social networking site disables a user for adding friends? Isn’t that the point of social networking? I really dont understand why Facebook worries about that. Also, I dont understand why they dont respond to emails sent to them (I’ve sent emails to appeals, disabled, and info@facebook.com). Do they even have a right to disable an account on these grounds? I dont see anything in their TOS that states that adding friends is against the rules. Does anyone have any suggestion on how to get my facebook account back? Will a lawsuit help?

  44. Andy Winters says:

    Well adding friends is one thing, but they have to approve you too. There is that check on their end. I agree though. How can you network without saying hi to people?

  45. Andy Winters says:

    Well adding friends is one thing, but they have to approve you too. There is that check on their end. I agree though. How can you network without saying hi to people?

  46. camille says:

    hello i need help i tried to open an account on facebook using an email address that already existed with them which was my brother account…….so they took the email address and now my brother’s facebook account is no more we cant find it anywhere not even on his friends list we really want this account back and dont know how to get it….i did not know that only on email per account and they told me that but they took it anyway and now we cant find his account………..any advice…i email them have not gotton any responce yet how long does it take

  47. camille says:

    hello i need help i tried to open an account on facebook using an email address that already existed with them which was my brother account…….so they took the email address and now my brother’s facebook account is no more we cant find it anywhere not even on his friends list we really want this account back and dont know how to get it….i did not know that only on email per account and they told me that but they took it anyway and now we cant find his account………..any advice…i email them have not gotton any responce yet how long does it take

  48. D says:

    I WAS RECENTLY DISABLED I ASKED WHAT THATS WHAT THEY SAID

    Hey, After reviewing your situation, we have determined that you violated our Terms of Use. Please note that nudity and other sexually explicit content is not allowed on the site. Additionally, we do not allow users to send messages that are sexually suggestive, or that other users may find harassing in nature. We will not be able to reactivate your account for any reason. This decision is final. Thanks for your understanding, JadaUser OperationsFacebook

  49. D says:

    I WAS RECENTLY DISABLED I ASKED WHAT THATS WHAT THEY SAID

    Hey, After reviewing your situation, we have determined that you violated our Terms of Use. Please note that nudity and other sexually explicit content is not allowed on the site. Additionally, we do not allow users to send messages that are sexually suggestive, or that other users may find harassing in nature. We will not be able to reactivate your account for any reason. This decision is final. Thanks for your understanding, JadaUser OperationsFacebook