Reports are circulating about certain Instagram and Facebook users who are finding themselves locked out of their accounts for violating the ToS associated with each site. Before being allowed back into their accounts, these people are being asked to upload an image of a government issued photo ID before being allowed back onto the site.
Instagram and Facebook are requesting some users upload the image of a government issued photo ID
According to those who have been asked to provide an ID, not all forms of identification have been accepted by the two sites and those people are being asked to provide a copy of their birth certificate before regaining control over their account. Many are confused about whether these requests are legitimate or if it is the work of a knowledgeable phisher. A spokesman for Facebook, which owns both sites, said, "Instagram occasionally removes accounts due to violation of terms and, depending on the violation, may ask people to upload IDs for verification purposes."
Instagram just updated its ToS on January 19th. While it can be understood why Facebook would verify a user's identity as it requires account holders to use their real names, there is no such requirement for Instagram which makes the demand for ID a bit puzzling for users of that site. The photo sharing social network might eventually join Facebook and request account holders to use their real names, but for now it is not a requirement for Instagram.
Neither site would comment further. Did any of our loyal readers receive a request for photo ID pertaining to their Facebook or Instagram account? Did it escalate into a request for a birth certificate? Let us know by dropping a comment in the box below.
Hi,
We’re sorry, but we can’t verify your claim based on the ID you provided. Please reply to this email with a different government-issued photo ID. This ID must include your full name and date of birth. If any of this information is located on the back of the document, be sure to include an image of this as well.
If you don’t have a government-issued photo ID, we need you to send us two things:
-A copy of a photo ID (ex: work or school ID) -A copy of an official document verifying your name and age (ex: birth certificate)
These documents must be from a respected institution (ex. business, university) and combined must show your full name, birthday and identification photo. We will permanently delete these documents after we resolve your issue.
Note that we will not be able to process your request unless you send in proper ID. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.
Recommended Stories
Loading Comments...
COMMENT
All comments need to comply with our
Community Guidelines
Phonearena comments rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: