One-on-One With Brittany Watson of PeopleOverPlatforms

For those who've lost their accounts as a result of Meta's unjust account purge, Brittany Watson serves as their voice. As the mastermind behind the People Over Platforms, she advocates on behalf of those who've lost everything.

She sat down with me to give this exclusive interview about her cause.

Halden Mile: Would you be willing to tell us about yourself?

Brittany Watson: My name is Brittany Watson, and I started the petition — and later founded People Over Platforms Worldwide — after losing access to my own Facebook account during a really difficult time in my life.

I wasn’t deactivated outright. Instead, I was stuck in what Meta calls “Account Integrity” — this strange, frozen appeal loop where nothing moved forward. I couldn’t get back in, couldn’t contact support, and even trying to get Meta Verified didn’t help. They kept rejecting my ID, no matter how many times I submitted it — even after I tried with multiple valid government IDs.

While I waited, I created backup accounts just to stay connected… but every single one was disabled almost instantly. That’s when I realized this probably wasn’t a glitch. My main account might be gone for good.

That experience opened my eyes to something much bigger — a crisis no one was addressing. I began hearing from more and more people around the world with nearly identical stories. So I started speaking up. I launched the petition. And what started as one story quickly became thousands. Now I’m doing everything I can to fight for those who’ve been silenced, erased, or ignored — because people deserve better than this.

What is the exact mission statement of People Over Platforms?

Our mission is to fight for digital justice and human rights online — to make sure no one is erased, gaslit, or silenced by automated systems with no accountability.

We’re pushing for real transparency, fair moderation, and actual human review — not just faceless bots and endless appeal loops. That’s why we created the People Over Platforms Certification Program — a new standard for what ethical platforms should look like.

To be certified, platforms must meet clear criteria:

• Transparent moderation and appeal processes

• No AI-only enforcement without human review

• Fair and timely responses to user reports

• Publicly available Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

• Transparency about data use

• Commitment to freedom of expression

• Mental health considerations for users

• Willingness to be reviewed annually

We’re also launching a public directory of certified platforms, a custom badge system, and a formal application form. It’s about shifting the culture — because the tech world needs accountability, not just policies buried in fine print.

What do you believe is Meta's reasoning for ignoring its clientele?

Honestly? Because they can. They’ve built a system where users don’t have real access to help — and they know it. They’ve replaced people with AI, outsourced trust, and locked users into endless support loops that don’t lead anywhere.

Ignoring us is easier. It protects them from having to explain, take responsibility, or offer refunds. It’s not that they can’t do better — it’s that they’ve chosen not to. And that’s what we’re fighting to change.

What caused the breakdown in real human support on social media platforms?

It comes down to unchecked growth. In the early days, support teams were smaller but reachable. Now, as platforms have exploded in size, they’ve turned to automation to cut costs.

But in the process, they’ve lost all accountability. Human review is rare. Decisions are made by AI. And support feels like shouting into the void.

That’s why one of our certification requirements is no AI-only enforcement. Because if you’re going to ban a human being, a human being should review that case.

Has there been any luck getting in touch with Mark Zuckerberg or anyone at Meta?

Personally, no. I’ve tried every available route — including Meta Verified — and never received a real response from an actual person. Despite over 32,000 petition signatures, Meta hasn’t responded directly or acknowledged what’s happening.

That said, some news outlets have gotten in touch with them. But even when they respond, it’s vague. They avoid addressing the real issue: that thousands of people are being wrongfully accused and erased from their platforms with no explanation.

What’s especially telling is that users who file small claims court cases do tend to hear back. I’ve seen multiple reports — including screenshots — where Meta reached out by email asking for their account info or offering to reinstate the account if the case was dropped. It proves they can respond. They’re just choosing not to — unless legal pressure is involved.

And now, we’re also hearing that Meta might be trying to push new legislation to give themselves legal protection for disabling accounts without consequence. If that’s true, it means they’re doubling down instead of fixing what’s broken.

So while I haven’t heard from them directly — the pressure is clearly working. And we’re only just getting started.

What led you to start the petition? And what’s the most signatures you’ve seen in a day?

The day I realized my account might be gone forever — after weeks of failed appeals and constant ID rejections — I knew this wasn’t just a bug. Something deeper was wrong. And if I was going through this, others had to be too.

I launched the petition to demand answers, and the response was overwhelming. The biggest day we’ve had so far was over 3,000 signatures in 24 hours, right after BBC News covered it. That coverage confirmed what I already knew: people care, and they’re paying attention.

Would a settlement between $100 billion to $500 billion be justifiable for the harm caused?

Some people lost far more than what any dollar amount could ever restore. This isn’t just about lost accounts — it’s about lost connections, lost identity, and lost memories that can never be replaced.

We’ve heard from parents who lost photos of their children. Grieving family members who lost messages from someone who passed away. Abuse survivors who lost access to their support groups — the only safe spaces they had. No amount of compensation can ever bring those things back.

While financial settlements might offer temporary relief or help rebuild parts of someone’s life, they will never heal the emotional devastation caused by being suddenly cut off from a world that once made them feel seen, supported, and safe.

And beyond the data loss, there’s something even more dangerous happening: disconnection from mental health support systems.

From everything I’ve researched — and while I can’t confirm it with 100% certainty — suicide rates appear to be rapidly climbing. Normally, the global suicide figure averages around 700,000 per year. But some sources suggest we’ve already surpassed that number

— and the year isn't even over.

I believe part of that increase is due to a crisis we aren’t talking enough about: people are losing access to the only communities keeping them afloat. Online support spaces. Mental health check-ins. Peer-led groups. LGBTQ+ forums. Trauma recovery pages. Grief support groups.

And when Meta disables an account, they don’t just remove a profile — they erase a lifeline. For some, that’s the only place they felt like they had a voice. And when that’s ripped away without warning, it doesn’t just cause frustration — it causes spirals. It causes breakdowns. It causes people to shut down entirely.

So yes — people deserve compensation. But more than that, they deserve to be treated like human beings. With dignity. With transparency. With care.

This is not just about accounts. This is about people trying to survive in a world that’s already heavy — and being digitally erased in the process.

What would you say to the people raising awareness through videos and articles?

You’re the heartbeat of this movement. Every video, article, and post you create gives someone else the courage to speak up — or the comfort of realizing they’re not alone. I’d say: you are lighting candles in the dark.

You’re not just sharing stories — you’re preserving memories. You’re fighting silence with truth. And for so many people who feel invisible right now, you are the reminder that their voice still matters.

It’s easy to underestimate the power of a post, a video, or a thread. But for someone who just lost years of memories, who feels like they’ve been digitally erased, your words might be the first comfort they’ve felt. You’re saying “you’re not alone” — and that can mean everything.

You’re keeping the stories alive when platforms try to bury them. You’re making noise in a space that tries to mute us. You’re showing people that what was taken from them — their photos, their connections, their identity — is still worth grieving.

We’ve heard from people who lost their only videos of loved ones who passed. Parents whose baby photos vanished. Survivors who lost years of trauma healing. These aren’t just “accounts.” These are lives.

So thank you — deeply — for refusing to look away.

Your voice is the light some people are holding onto. And if you’ve ever wondered whether your advocacy matters? It does. It matters more than you know.

For every story that vanished... we remember. For every life touched by this… we’re not letting go. You’re helping turn silence into momentum. You’re doing the work Meta refuses to do. And I’m endlessly grateful.

Of the false termination categories (terrorist association, exploitation, impersonation), which is the most common?

The most common accusation I’ve seen by far is CSE: Child Sexual Exploitation — and it’s one of the most horrifying things you can be wrongfully accused of.

It’s not just an account deactivation. It’s a soul-crushing, reputation-destroying label that no one should have to wear, especially not falsely — and especially not without proof, explanation, or a path to appeal.

People are getting hit with this label for completely innocent content. Survivors, parents, artists, educators, grief group admins, mental health advocates. And many of them are just… erased.

Here are some of their voices:

“Meta disabled both my Instagram Accounts, my Facebook Account & Page… for ‘Child Sex Exploitation’… like what? That’s a disgusting accusation to make.”

— Jason Moore, Hartford, CT

“I was recently banned for supposedly partaking in ‘child sexual exploitation,’ as have many others. I have no idea what caused this… It’s insane.”

— Nathan Goldstein, Los Angeles, CA

“Instagram and Facebook disabled and banned my accounts claiming my account was sexual exploitation. I’m a burlesque and circus performer… This is absolutely devastating to people’s lives!”

— Saleena Dionne, Harleysville, PA

“Meta has wrongfully disabled countless accounts under serious accusations—such as child exploitation—without providing evidence… violating the digital rights and dignity of users.”

— Jay Marie, Capitol Heights, MD

“My Facebook and Instagram account was wrongly suspended of child sexual exploitation, abuse and nudity. I never posted anything sexually of child exploitation. I’m just innocent people getting falsely accused of this bullshit..?”

— Jahdai Taylor, Woodbridge, VA

“Was wrongfully banned for CSE on Feb 2, 2025… all of them get banned. Support just says ‘it’s too late now.’”

— James Goldman, Yardley, PA

“An Instagram account I managed… was disabled citing a violation related to Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)—an allegation that is completely unfounded and profoundly distressing… The consequences are real: lost memories, severed communication, damaged small businesses, and reputational harm.”

— Denise Levesque-Miller, Quispamsis, Canada

And these are just a few.

While I’m sure there are rare cases where a ban is legitimate, I can confidently say:

None of these comments, none of these people, none of these minors, none of these businesses, none of these mothers, fathers, brothers, or sisters are guilty of that. And there is no viable proof being offered. Just accusations — delivered by automation, without context, with no right of reply.

This is why we fight. Because every one of these people deserves their name back. Their story back. Their life back.

What does the future hold for People Over Platforms?

The future of People Over Platforms is rooted in something emotional, important, and powerful: the right to be seen, heard, and treated like a human being in the digital world.

What began as a petition has grown into a global movement — and we’re just getting started. Every day, more people speak out. More stories come to light. And more of the world is beginning to understand the depth of harm caused when platforms erase us without reason or recourse.

Right now, our focus is on expanding the People Over Platforms website into a full-scale hub for advocacy, support, and systemic change. We’re building a resource library, legal action tools, a media archive, and a certification program that will hold platforms to a higher standard — one rooted in transparency, fairness, and human dignity.

We’re also creating space for healing — through virtual scrolls and candle walls that honor the people who lost not just access, but memories, messages, and pieces of themselves.

Because this isn’t just a tech failure — it’s human loss. And that deserves to be remembered.

Long term, our mission is to push for real accountability — in courtrooms, in policies, in public consciousness. We want to shift the culture of online platforms from one of unchecked power to one of ethical responsibility.

We’re not here to make noise for a moment. We’re here to build something that lasts — for the people who’ve already lost too much, and for the generations coming next. And we’re not backing down.

If you could speak directly to Mark Zuckerberg, what would you say?

You built one of the most powerful communication networks in human history — something that connected families, communities, movements, and memories. And yet, you've allowed that very system to become a machine of silence. A place where real people

— with real lives — are being erased without warning, without explanation, and without a way back.

This isn’t just about “security.” It’s about identity. It’s about mothers who lost baby photos they’ll never recover. Veterans who lost entire support groups. Small business owners who lost their livelihoods. Survivors who lost the only space they felt safe sharing their truth.

Your platform gave people a voice — and now it’s taking that voice away. So here’s what I’d say to you: Start listening. Fix what’s broken. Because we are not bots. We are not spam. We are not disposable. We are human beings.

And we’re done being treated like we don’t exist.

In closing, what do you wish to add?

To anyone who has been silenced, locked out, falsely accused, or left in limbo by Meta’s systems: you are not invisible. You are not overreacting. And you are not alone. I know how it feels to lose your memories, your community, your connection to the world

— and then be told it’s just an account. But it’s not just an account. It’s years of photos. Messages from loved ones who may no longer be here. Support groups that helped you survive. Work that supported your family. It’s a digital reflection of your life — and you deserve to have it respected.

This movement wasn’t built by me alone. It was built by you. By every person who shared their story. By every comment filled with heartbreak and hope. By every message I’ve received from someone saying, “I thought I was the only one.”

You’re the reason I haven’t stopped. And I won’t.

We’re going to keep fighting — for justice, for transparency, for digital human rights. Because this isn’t just about policy. It’s about people. It’s about grief. And dignity. And memory. And healing. If Meta won’t acknowledge what’s happening, we will. If they won’t listen, we’ll speak louder. If they erase us, we will write ourselves back into the story. This is only the beginning.

For those wishing to join the growing petition to restore the Meta accounts and hold the tech giant accountable, please sign up at https://www.change.org/p/meta-wrongfully-disabling-accounts-with-no-human-customer-support?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=a5af1850-3737-11f0-8426-c32e0d2570de