It is a more common problem than you might imagine, yet it still remains difficult to solve: in the event of temporary suspension of the profile WhatsApp there is no preferential communication channel to ask for explanations regarding the matter or express one’s grievances.
There are therefore no toll-free numbers or chat rooms technical support: once its decision has been made, Meta intervenes by blocking the account without notifying the user or providing clarification on the reasons behind the “punishment”. The only possibility, in the event that you believe you have suffered an unjustified sanction, is to contact the email address “[email protected]” to forward a reactivation request, as indicated directly by a default message. The problem is if and when this account restoration can take place, also because the extreme intervention, be it a temporary or definitive deactivation, is never justified: for the user, therefore, it is impossible even to correct the error or behavior deemed incorrect by Meta, provided that it actually occurred.
If it is one temporary suspensionthe user of the instant messaging app can only click on the “Learn more” button, which allows him to reach the FAQ, specifically the “Information on temporarily suspended accounts” section. The hope of finding enlightening information is dashed by the generic nature of the information provided.“If you receive the message ‘Temporarily suspended’ within the app, it is very likely that you are using an unofficial WhatsApp app, or that you are collecting information in an unauthorized way, an activity known as scraping”we read in the text, “switch to the official app or, after temporary suspension, stop scraping”. If this does not happen, explains the support team, the suspension would become permanent. “Rogue WhatsApp applications put your security and privacy at risk and are not supported”the note continues, specifying what is meant by scrapingthat is to say “the targeted and large-scale extraction of information using automated tools for unauthorized purposes”. “Capturing user information (such as phone numbers, profile pictures, and statuses) in this way violates our Terms of Service”concludes the short statement.
Even worse happens in case of permanent suspension: no information about the violation nor any possibility to contest the punishment imposed, only the message “This account is not authorized to use WhatsApp” appears on the screen. “We suspend an account if we believe that the account’s activities are against our Terms of Service, such as spam, scams, or activities that pose a security risk to WhatsApp users.”we read in the note available, which invites the user to read the ‘Acceptable use of our services’ section.
At this point you can submit a request for intervention by clicking on “Request a review” inside the app:“We will look into your case”the note continues,“we will contact you as soon as possible once we have completed the review” which, specifies the support team, can happen for a single phone number. There is no point in sending multiple reports, the waiting times will always be the same, the text specifies: “After your account has been reviewed and our team has made a decision, you will receive a notification from WhatsApp”we read in conclusion.
In one case or another we are at the mercy of the times of the app managers, but what is astounding is that there is no detailed explanation on the alleged violation, which in
in many cases it was not even committed, nor the possibility of communicating with someone to make complaints and possibly cut the reactivation time if it was an unfair measure.