Thought Leadership
The popular open source platform Joomla is facing an unexpected problem: Meta has blocked the platform’s official Facebook page, which has existed since 2007 and has over 162,000 fans.
The reason: alleged “impersonation” (misuse of identity). Despite multiple attempts to appeal the decision, Meta remains stubborn – leaving Joomla and its international community in a difficult situation.
A serious loss for the community
For 17 years, the Facebook page was an important meeting place for Joomla users worldwide. With over 5,800 posts and almost 160,000 followers, it offered updates, resources and space for discussions about web development. But suddenly the page was blocked without a clear explanation – and Joomla is asking itself: “Who are we supposed to be imitating?”
The block came after an automated check by Meta’s AI. Joomla’s team responded immediately with several appeals, held discussions with Meta, including a Webex meeting. Nevertheless, the decision remains in place, leaving the Joomla community perplexed.
Communication channel cut off
The suspension affects Joomla far more than just a social media presence. Facebook was an important communication channel through which the organization interacted with its global community. The loss of this medium is particularly painful for an open source project that thrives on collaboration.
Joomla demands fair treatment
Although Joomla recognizes Meta’s role in platform security, the organization feels the decision is unfair and not transparent. Philip Walton, Vice President of “Open Source Matters”, the organization behind Joomla, is clear: “We understand the need to protect the platform, but this blocking is incomprehensible. Our site has been active for almost two decades and we have never violated any policies.”
Major questions about the platform policy
The Joomla case is not the only one to raise questions about Meta’s decision-making processes. Increasingly, organizations, especially non-profits and open source projects, are getting into trouble due to opaque policies and automated reviews. These decisions are often made by legitimate stakeholders who contribute to the positive online ecosystem.
Appeal to Meta
Joomla calls on Meta to review the case fairly and transparently. The organization has made positive contributions to the web for years, and the loss of the Facebook page is hindering the exchange with countless users worldwide. Joomla remains willing to work with Meta on a solution – what they need is a fair review and restoration of the site.
