Facebook has long leaned on artificial intelligence to detect and remove harmful content, but recent events show that the system is far from reliable. Independent publishers are finding their legitimate news posts flagged and removed for reasons that make little sense, raising concerns about the platform’s priorities.
In one recent case, Facebook’s AI flagged and deleted two standard news articles. The justification given was: “The post may use misleading links or content to trick people to visit, or stay on, a website.” The irony is clear — the articles contained no clickbait, misleading links, or harmful content. Instead, they were straightforward pieces of reporting, stripped from public view without warning.
When AI Gets It Wrong
This isn’t the first time users have faced strange warnings and removals, but what makes this instance striking is the repetition. Being flagged once could be dismissed as a glitch, but twice with the same bizarre reasoning suggests a deeper problem.
The very purpose of AI moderation is to catch dangerous or deceptive content, yet in this case, the system behaved more like an overzealous hall monitor, punishing those who did nothing wrong. For independent creators, this is more than an inconvenience — it disrupts audience trust and growth.
Is Competition the Real Issue?
Some independent publishers argue that the repeated takedowns feel less like mistakes and more like protective measures. After all, when smaller outlets attract readers, they directly compete with Facebook’s own ecosystem of engagement and ad-driven content.
The analogy is simple: it feels like taking candy from a child. Instead of encouraging diverse voices, Facebook’s AI clamps down the moment those voices gain traction, leaving creators to question whether the moderation is truly about misinformation — or about limiting competition.
The Human Cost of Automation
AI moderation may be faster than human review, but its lack of nuance comes at a cost. Innocent articles are erased, communities lose access to content they want to read, and creators lose valuable reach. For small publishers who rely on visibility to survive, a single false strike can mean a sharp drop in traffic and revenue.
Beyond economics, there is also the matter of credibility. When Facebook removes posts without a valid reason, it damages the reputation of the publisher involved, suggesting they shared something misleading when they did not. The ripple effect can harm both the platform and the people trying to use it responsibly.
GamingHQ Takes the Issue to Regulators
At GamingHQ, we are not standing by while automated systems silence independent reporting. This week, we are holding a meeting with the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) in the Netherlands. The ACM is responsible for ensuring fair competition between businesses and protecting consumer interests.
By raising the issue directly with regulators, we hope to shine a spotlight on how platforms like Facebook wield disproportionate power over publishers. When flawed AI systems can erase legitimate work without oversight or recourse, it becomes not just a technological issue but a matter of market fairness and consumer rights.
A Call for Accountability
If Facebook truly wants to combat misinformation, it must ensure its tools are accurate, transparent, and fair. Automated systems need stronger safeguards to prevent wrongful takedowns, and human oversight should play a larger role in reviewing flagged content.
Until then, the narrative of “AI keeping people safe” risks sounding hollow. Instead, it increasingly looks like a system that silences competition, frustrates creators, and leaves users questioning whether the platform’s moderation serves the community — or only itself.
