A US lawyer named Mark Zuckerberg is suing Meta Platforms Inc. after his Facebook account was repeatedly suspended over mistaken identity claims, alleging significant financial losses and breach of contract.
Mark S Zuckerberg, an Indiana bankruptcy attorney, has filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging that his Facebook account has been wrongly suspended multiple times due to mistaken identity. The platform accused him of impersonating Facebook founder Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, despite him using his real name for over a decade. He has been practicing law for 38 years, long before the other Zuckerberg was born or became famous.
Over the past eight years, his account has been disabled five times, leading to substantial business losses. He estimates thousands of dollars in damages, particularly from a $11,000 advertising campaign that was cut short during a suspension. “It’s not funny,” he expressed to local news, “Not when they take my money.” He compared the situation to buying a billboard and having it covered, denying him the advertising benefit.
The lawsuit, filed in Marion Superior Court, claims breach of contract, as Meta failed to provide the paid advertising services. He argues that the company’s actions have harmed his professional reputation and income, seeking compensation for the financial damages incurred.
To prove his identity, Mr. Zuckerberg submitted numerous documents, including his driver’s license, credit cards, and multiple facial photographs. He highlighted the difference in middle names—he is Mark Steven, while the CEO is Mark Elliot—but the issues persisted despite these efforts.
In May 2025, his account was suspended again and only restored after the lawsuit was filed. Meta issued a statement apologizing for the error, stating that the account was disabled in mistake and has been reinstated, with steps being taken to prevent future occurrences. They appreciated his patience in this matter.
This is not an isolated incident; Mr. Zuckerberg has a history of name-related confusions and maintains a website to document them. For example, he was once inadvertently sued by the state of Washington due to the name similarity, adding to the challenges he faces.
The case underscores the inadequacies of automated systems on social media platforms and their impact on users with common or celebrity names. It may prompt Meta and other tech companies to enhance their identity verification processes and improve accountability for handling user accounts and advertising services in the future.