Alice Istanbul - Blog: April 2009

Update: I have still not heard back from anyone at facebook. I've decided to publish my pretty much one-sided email correspondence with them for everyone to read. This morning I mailed out letters to all the facebook executives. I'll publish that letter to my blog later on this evening, so check back then. In the meantime, you can join this facebook group to show your support. Thanks again to Clare for starting it for me.

Re: account disabled in error
9 messages

The Facebook Team

Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 12:07 AM

Reply-To: The Facebook Team

To: aistanbul@*****.com

Hi,

The Facebook Team has received your inquiry. We should get back to you soon. In the meantime, we encourage you to review our Terms of Use (http://www.facebook.com/terms.php) for more information.

Thanks for contacting Facebook,

The Facebook Team

The Facebook Team

Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 10:36 AM

Reply-To: The Facebook Team

To: aistanbul@*****.com

Hi,

Unfortunately, our systems detected that the name on your account might violate our standards. Facebook requires all profiles to be associated with a full, real name that corresponds to a single individual.

Please provide the following information, and we will gladly re-evaluate the status of your account.

First Name:
Last Name:
Primary use for account:

Thanks,

The Facebook Team

Alicia Istanbul

Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 11:01 AM

To: The Facebook Team

Thank you. I assure you that my real name is Alicia Istanbul. I will gladly send you a copy of my drivers license or any other type of documentation to prove it.

First name: Alicia
Last name: Istanbul
Primary use for account: Personal use, to keep in touch with friends. I also make jewelry and made a group/fan page on facebook for that.

Please reinstate my account as quickly as you can - I'm feeling very cut off from my friends right now!

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Alicia Istanbul

Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 4:12 PM

To: The Facebook Team

Hello,

How much longer until my account is reactivated? Please let me know what documentation I need to provide to prove my identity.

It's unfair that I've been cut off when I have done nothing wrong. I follow your Terms and Conditions to the letter. I'm not sure why it's taking so long for you to re-evaluate my account and see that I'm legitimate.

Thank you,
Alicia Istanbul

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Alicia Istanbul

Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 5:15 PM

To: disabled@facebook.com, appeals@facebook.com, info@facebook.com, appeals-comment@facebook.com, warning@facebook.com

Hello facebook admin,

My appeals seem to be falling on deaf ears.

My account was disabled in error.

I have offered multiple times to send you proof of my name and identity. Please tell me what documentation you need and I will send it immediately.

I have done nothing wrong or contradictory to your Terms of Use.

My real name is Istanbul. It has been my name since the day I was born. I can't believe I'm having to defend my name.

I have been without facebook since last night, and have not heard back from you since this morning.

Why is it taking so long for you re-evaluate my account and see that I am a legitimate person.

Please let me know what I need to do to have my account reinstated as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Alicia Istanbul

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Alicia Istanbul

Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 1:35 PM

To: disabled@facebook.com, appeals@facebook.com, info@facebook.com, appeals-comment@facebook.com, warning@facebook.com, appeals+nj3b1ya@facebook.com

Hello,

I have still not heard back from you on the status of my account. I am still waiting to find out where you would like me to send you my proof of identity.

My friends have created a facebook group in support of getting me unbanned. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=99596530750&ref=mf

Yesterday you banned my sister, L*** Istanbul K**** [name withheld for privacy] from facebook, because her maiden name is Istanbul.

Banning people because they have an unusual last name is discriminatory. A lot of people are outraged over this.

Alicia Istanbul

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Alicia Istanbul

Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 7:57 PM

To: disabled@facebook.com, appeals@facebook.com, info@facebook.com, appeals-comment@facebook.com, warning@facebook.com, appeals+nj3b1ya@facebook.com

Please reply with at least an update on the status of my account.

You are discriminating against my sister and me because our last name is Istanbul. There is *no question* that your actions in this regard constitute clear and unmistakable intolerance and discrimination against us because of our name.

Do I need to contact your CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, in order to get a response? Do I need to contact the media? Do I need to have an attorney contact *you*?

Alicia Istanbul

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Alicia Istanbul

Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 10:01 PM

To: disabled@facebook.com, appeals@facebook.com, info@facebook.com, appeals-comment@facebook.com, warning@facebook.com, appeals+nj3b1ya@facebook.com

Please, please, please, reply to this email and let me know what I need to do to have my account reinstated. I am literally begging for someone to reply to me

I have not heard back from anyone since Thursday morning, and this is causing me a lot of distress. I have done nothing wrong and you have disabled my account in error. My real name is Istanbul. My sister's real maiden name is Istanbul. You disabled her account yesterday (L*** Istanbul K******) [name withheld for privacy] .

There has got to be someone at facebook customer service who can help me.

I am begging you to show some compassion and acknowledge the error you have made and reinstate my account. Or at the very least write back with an update. Please.

Alicia Istanbul

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Alicia Istanbul

Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 9:45 AM

To: disabled@facebook.com, appeals@facebook.com, info@facebook.com, appeals-comment@facebook.com, warning@facebook.com, appeals+nj3b1ya@facebook.com

Good morning,

Any updates on the re-evaluation of my account?

This morning I have sent out letters to every single one of the executives in your company. I have enclosed printed copies of my email correspondence with you, which highlights your lack of response and customer service with respect to my case.

In the meantime, the facebook advocacy group started by my friend on my behalf has grown to 151 members so far with more people joining every hour. As you can see by the postings on the wall, this case has infuriated many people. http://www.facebook.com/wall.php?id=99596530750#/group.php?gid=99596530750

I still await your response and look forward to providing you proof of my identity whenever you let me know where to send it.

Alicia Istanbul

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My facebook profile was disabled by facebook admin without warning last night. They claim that I'm using a "fake name" because my last name is Istanbul. My last name has been Istanbul since the day I was born.

I have been locked out of my account and have no recourse other than to email them and wait. Even though I am willing and able to provide them with proof of my name and identity, they have not acknowledged my offer in this regard. My multiple appeals through email seem to be falling on deaf ears.

Today they disabled my sister's account for the same reason. My mother and cousin, whose last names are also Istanbul, were forced to misspell their last names in order open their accounts recently. This is both ironic and contradictory to facebook's official policy on the use of fake names: "We do not allow users to register with fake names, to impersonate any person or entity, or to falsely state or otherwise misrepresent themselves or their affiliations."

I find it frustrating that they have disabled my account without warning. They have not told me if or when they will be reinstating my profile. In the meantime I have been cut off from all my contacts, and the content in my account, which belongs to me.

I can't help but feel that I'm being discriminated against because of my un-American sounding last name.

You can show your support by joining this facebook group that my friend Clare started for me.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

My letters to the facebook executives

Monday, April 27, 2009

Still no response from facebook. Here are the emails I've sent:

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Facebook disables my profile because my last name is Istanbul

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Trunk show at Dyer & Posta Salon

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Look what was waiting for me at the post office :)