WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. – A small business owner in Oakland County spent 17+ years building her company. She said it only took one AI mistake to devastate her business.
A West Bloomfield small business owner is fighting to regain access to her social media accounts after Meta wrongfully accused her of “child sexual exploitation.”
“As a mom of two, this is disturbing,” Tan said. “I don’t post anything other than fresh flowers, weddings, and behind-the-scenes.”
Ching Tan, owner of Design Quintessentials, lost access to both her Instagram and Facebook accounts in June when Meta, the parent company of both platforms, disabled them without warning.
“It was in the middle of the night. I was scrolling and all of a sudden, I get this message saying your account is disabled, and I thought it was a prank,” Tan said.
The wedding floral and stationery designer, who has operated her business since 2007, estimates she has lost approximately $10,000 in potential new business this summer due to the account suspension.
Her Instagram presence, which showcased behind-the-scenes videos of wedding preparations and floral arrangements, was crucial for attracting new clients.
“It’s a really visual thing. People like to see what I do,” Tan said. “It’s devastating. They don’t even have a human I can talk to.”
Growing pattern of false accusations
Tan’s situation isn’t unique.
The wedding designer, who had approximately 2,500 followers, received an email stating she has until December to appeal the decision before her account is permanently deleted.
Despite promptly filing an appeal and providing video verification of her identity, she remains locked out of her accounts and unable to create new ones.
Adding to the frustration, there is no direct phone number for users to call when their accounts are wrongfully suspended.
Users often rely on an automated appeal system that leads to dead ends in many cases.
Tan has exhausted multiple options to regain access to her accounts, including filing a claim with the 28th District court.
She continues to wait for a response from Meta regarding her appeal.
Local 4 News has reached out to Meta for comment on this situation, but has not received a response like everyone else.
People who have experienced similar account suspensions are encouraged to share their stories by contacting me at lkostiuk@wdiv.com.
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