KnowYourStuffNZ is urging Meta to review the unexplained removal of a staff member’s personal Facebook account, which was deleted without warning several months ago.
Despite repeated attempts to contact Meta through all available channels, the organisation has received no response.
The affected staff member is KnowYourStuffNZ’s Communications Lead. Their personal account appears to have been removed due to an incorrect assumption that the organisation is involved in illegal activity.
KnowYourStuffNZ emphasises that its drug‑checking and harm‑reduction services are fully legal in Aotearoa New Zealand.
New Zealand was the first jurisdiction in the world to have fully legalised the checking of illegal drugs as a public‑health measure. KnowYourStuffNZ operates within this legal framework and works closely with public‑health agencies, local authorities, and community partners to reduce harm and keep people safe.
“Our work is legal, evidence‑based, and focused on public health,” said Angela Howell, Trustee. “The removal of a staff member’s personal account used for private communication, not organisational activity, appears to stem from a misunderstanding of New Zealand law and of the nature of our work. Despite providing extensive documentation about this, after months of silence from Meta we are still asking for transparency and a fair review.”
The organisation is concerned about the wider implications of social‑media moderation decisions that inadvertently penalise legitimate public‑health services and their staff.
“When platforms remove accounts without explanation and without a meaningful appeals process, it undermines the ability of harm‑reduction organisations to communicate with the public,” said Angela.
“In our case, we are required as part of our service to share information on social media, such as harm reduction education and alerts for dangerous substances in circulation.”
KnowYourStuffNZ have put their Facebook page on hold while waiting for a response from Meta.
“I can’t stress enough how much of a blow it is for a small charity to lose a platform with 20,000 followers,” says Casey Spearin, General Manager. “It’s especially devastating for a staff member to lose decades of personal history and communications due to overzealous moderation algorithms.”
“Unfortunately we don’t have the time or resources to continue to pursue Meta for any action on this.”
In recent months there have been reports of many other harm-reduction organisations internationally having their accounts restricted and flagged for violating community guidelines, with no response from Meta through the formal disputes processes.
KnowYourStuffNZ is calling on Meta to reinstate the account or provide a clear explanation for its removal.
– Ends –