WhatsApp is restoring access to accounts that were unexpectedly blocked and placed under review, according to Meta. Users across several social media platforms reported being locked out of the messaging service without warning on Monday.
Meta acknowledged that its enforcement systems had incorrectly affected some accounts but did not disclose the cause or scale of the issue. The company also did not confirm whether the disruption was limited to particular countries or regions.
Users Told Reviews Could Take 24 Hours
Affected users posted screenshots on X and Threads showing a notice that WhatsApp was reviewing their account activity and device information. The message said the checks were intended to determine whether the accounts followed the platform’s Terms of Service.
WhatsApp told users that it would usually notify them of the review result within 24 hours. During that period, they were unable to access their chats or use other features linked to their accounts.
Some reports indicated that access returned within seconds or minutes, while other users remained locked out for longer. Reports came from multiple countries, including India, although Meta did not provide a geographic breakdown.
Meta Says Enforcement Can Make Mistakes
WhatsApp uses automated and manual enforcement systems to identify spam, scams and other activity that may violate its rules. Its account ban guidance says users can request a review when they believe an account has been suspended incorrectly.
Meta said it regularly bans accounts to protect users from people attempting to abuse the service. However, the company acknowledged that its systems can make mistakes and said it tries to restore affected accounts as quickly as possible.
“We’ve taken action to restore affected accounts,” a Meta spokesperson told TechCrunch.
The company did not say whether all accounts had been restored or whether some reviews were still ongoing. WhatsApp has more than three billion monthly active users, meaning even a limited enforcement error can affect a large number of people.
Users who remain unable to access their accounts can submit a review request through the app. WhatsApp says the review process examines account and device activity before determining whether access should be reinstated.
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