5,0/5 Google · 167 reviewsWe do not check reviews of us on other platforms that we do not quote verbatim for authenticity. They may therefore also come from people who are not our clients. The rules of the respective platform apply. Reviews that we quote verbatim on our website, by contrast, have been checked for authenticity within the meaning of Section 5b(3) UWG (German Act against Unfair Competition): we compared the reviewers’ names with our client register. We also asked the respective platform to check the reviews for authenticity.Period: October 2016 to date · As of: 28 October 2026
Social media account suspended
A suspension affects more than the login.
We check whether the suspension of your business account can be challenged and tell you which next step fits. This applies to Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, LinkedIn and YouTube. We will get back to you within 24 hours on working days.
Please enter a short description first.
The first contact is free of charge. Before any costs arise, we will inform you expressly.
Response within 24 hours on working daysOr read the immediate steps first
As of: 23 October 2026
Your account has been disabled
Your account goes against our Community Guidelines. This decision cannot be reversed.
Point of attack: no specific violation named
- 1Secure evidenceReason and evidence
- 2Legal reviewReasons and reassessment
- 3Implement the approachPlatform or court
Schematic illustration. Whether an account is reinstated is decided by the platform or the court.
We represent accounts on
- X
- TikTok
- YouTube
What should you do right now?
- Do not create a new account. A replacement account can be treated as circumventing the suspension and make the case worse. Higher Regional Court of Bamberg, judgment of 28.07.2025, 4 U 62/25 e
- Secure the suspension notice immediately, including all emails and the previous support history, each with date and time.
- Submit one reasoned appeal instead of several random complaints. Contradictory statements weaken the case.
Key points at a glance
- In the case of an account suspension, we at ITMR check whether the platform specifically names the reason for the suspension, whether the alleged violation is proven and whether a hearing and the complaints procedure were observed.
- Platforms may set rules and sanction violations, but they may not suspend accounts arbitrarily or without transparency.
- Depending on the case, we base the demand on the user contract, the Digital Services Act, the P2B Regulation or competition law.
- In the end, whether an account is reinstated is decided by the platform or a court.
- Your contact is Anna Ciuraj and her team. She is a lawyer. Response within 24 hours on working days.
- DSA
- Digital Services Act. EU regulation with obligations for online platforms and intermediary services.
The problem
What to do if your account is suspended?
In our mandates, a suspension of a business profile often affects an active communication channel. Campaigns, ad accounts, creator income, customer contact and a brand's visibility can all be hit at once.
Not every suspension is unlawful. It can be challenged if the violation is unproven, the reasoning is vague or the appeal route leads nowhere.
Platforms may set their own rules and sanction violations. However, this is no licence for blanket suspensions, unclear reasoning or contradictory complaints procedures.
We examine whether the measure is substantively justified, contractually covered, procedurally comprehensible and proportionate in the specific case. It also matters whether the platform has given appropriate consideration to the economic significance of the account.
- Which measure?
- Suspension, deactivation, termination, reach restriction, demonetisation, ad account block or security measure
- Which reason?
- Community rules, spam, account integrity, copyright or trade mark law, fraud, identity or automated activity
- Which rights?
- User contract, platform terms, DSA procedural rights, P2B for commercial use, competition law, civil law claims
- What to prove?
- Suspension notice, time, account value, reach, campaigns, link to revenue, support history, deadlines and previous replies
A typical case is the deactivated business account. Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, LinkedIn or YouTube report a suspension without a sound classification of the alleged violation.
In our cases, advertising or monetisation is often blocked as well. Ad account, Business Manager, creator functions, shops, campaigns or payment functions are then restricted.
In our experience, a blanket appeal via the support form often leads nowhere. The platform does not respond, refers to general rules or refuses the review without comprehensible reasons.
Economic consequences loom if campaigns, sponsorship, launches, customer service, recruiting, community management or sales run via the suspended channel.
Sometimes the platform names a content or rights allegation such as copyright, trade marks, spam, integrity, fraud or identity. In other cases, the account was taken over, and the issue is third-party access rather than moderation.
Support route, lawyer's demand or court?
Depending on the case, the correct complaints procedure of the platform must first be used and documented. This also applies to the DSA complaints procedure.
If the platform route leads nowhere or the suspension is business-critical, a lawyer's demand with a deadline follows.
If deletion is imminent or the economic disadvantages are high, urgent proceedings may be considered. We examine the legal basis of the claim and the place of jurisdiction carefully beforehand.
Practical benchmark. A hacked account, a moderation suspension and a Business Manager block need different routes. Trying everything via the same support channel blurs the case.
A serious review instead of promises of reinstatement
We do not promise reinstatement. We assess the prospects of success soundly, present evidence and arguments properly and consistently prepare the out-of-court or court route.
How it works
How do you reach a decision in three steps?
After your enquiry, we will get back to you within 24 hours on working days. You will then know which route has prospects in your case.
01
Secure evidence We secure the suspension notice, account status, platform messages, support history, times, ad accounts and campaigns. In doing so, we distinguish between a moderation suspension, a security case, a rights complaint, an ad account problem and a platform termination.
- Suspension noticesecured
- Support historysecured
- Specific violationnot named
02
Review the legal position We classify the terms of use, DSA, P2B, contract law, competition law, jurisdiction, interim relief and platform complaint case by case. Depending on the situation, we choose a platform complaint, a lawyer's demand, a DSA or P2B reference, competition law, dispute resolution or preparation for court.
- DSA statement of reasons
- missing
- Hearing
- not provided
- Place of jurisdiction
- checked
03
Implement the approach We prepare the platform complaint, a lawyer's demand with a deadline, out-of-court dispute resolution or court action with sound arguments. We formulate a clear demand. This can be reinstatement, reassessment, reasons, restoration, a cease-and-desist or further legal action.
- DemandReasons, reassessment
- Deadlineset
Scope of services
What is included in the package?
Service package: account suspension
Securing and documentation We secure the suspension notice, platform messages, times and support history and document the economic value of the account.
Classification of the measure We clarify whether it is a moderation suspension, a security measure, a rights complaint, an ad account block or a termination.
Legal review We review the terms of use, DSA procedural rights, the P2B Regulation, civil law claims and competition law approaches.
Platform complaint We draft the complaint or appeal with facts, review of the rules, legal reference and a comprehensible demand.
Lawyer's letter of demand We call on the platform, setting a deadline, to provide reasons, reassess or restore the account.
Preparation for court We examine the legal basis of the claim, the place of jurisdiction and urgency and, if necessary, prepare urgent proceedings.
- Platforms
- Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitch, Business Manager, ad accounts
- For whom
- Businesses, brands, agencies, creator businesses and professional platform presences
- First response
- within 24 hours on working days
- Initial contact
- free of charge, to clarify the topic, responsibility and next step
- Costs
- We inform you expressly in advance. Only then do you decide.
- Legal bases
- User contract, DSA, P2B Regulation, BGB, competition law
- Not included
- Action against persons who triggered a suspension through false reports or an account takeover. This is a separate service, on request and as needed.
Who delivers what and who decides
- Link to the account and screenshots of the suspension notice
- Previous customer service and appeal attempts
- Details of business use
- Deadlines and imminent consequences
- Structuring and securing evidence
- Legal review and strategy
- Complaint, demand and setting deadlines
- Preparation of court action
- The platform, via complaint and reassessment
- A dispute settlement body under the DSA, if involved
- The court, in court proceedings
How does the engagement work?
- 1
First assessment We review the suspension notice and documents and tell you whether and by which route action has prospects. The first contact is free of charge.
- 2
Offer for the package If the package fits, you receive an offer for securing evidence, review, appeal and the lawyer's demand. We only start once you agree.
- 3
Court steps separately Urgent proceedings, a lawsuit and representation in court are not part of the package. We agree these steps separately if you decide to take them.
Case groups
What type of suspension is it?
Every suspension has its own causes. The case group determines which documents we need and which approach applies first.
| Case group | Key question | What we review |
|---|---|---|
| Account deactivated | Was a specific violation named comprehensibly? | We review the reason for the suspension, platform terms, DSA statement of reasons and the claim to restoration. |
| Business Manager or ad account blocked | Are campaigns, payment functions or agency access affected? | We present economic relevance, contractual reference, ad account structure and the escalation channel. |
| Content removed or visibility restricted | Is it about individual content or the entire account? | We separate content, legal position, moderation reason and the effect on reach. |
| Copyright or trade mark complaint | Is there a genuine rights violation or an abusive report? | We build up the chain of rights, rights of use, trade mark position and counter-arguments. |
| Hacked account | Has access been lost, or is the platform blocking due to suspected security issues? | We separate recovery, proof of identity, documentation of third-party access and platform contact. |
| Several channels affected | Is a single suspension being extended to entire channel or account structures? | We review the T&Cs, the circumvention allegation, channel reference, proportionality and urgency. |
Several case groups can coincide. We then order the steps so that platform procedures and legal steps do not block each other.
For whom
Who is this for?
We represent accounts on which business reach, revenue or customer communication depend.
Company profiles, brand channels and shops whose visibility and customer contact run via the platform.
Creators whose channel generates income from collaborations, advertising or product sales.
Ad accounts, pixels and payment functions on which ongoing campaigns and budgets depend.
Agencies that manage channels and ad accounts for their clients and themselves lose access in the event of a suspension.
Where we recommend a different route
- Pure password problems without a suspension are usually solved faster via the platform's recovery process.
- If the account was hacked, we first secure access and document the third-party access before taking legal action.
Legal levers
Which rights apply alongside platform customer service?
With social media suspensions, platform rules and general contract law meet European procedural rights. Which approach applies depends on the measure, the use and the platform.
DSA
Digital Services Act
The DSA is particularly relevant when platform decisions have to be reasoned, challenged and reviewed. This concerns suspensions, content removals, visibility restrictions, missing reasons and unanswered complaints.
P2B
Platform-to-Business Regulation
If a business uses platform services commercially, the P2B Regulation may apply. This applies above all to transparency, restriction, suspension or termination, where the measure affects market access.
BGB
User contract and T&Cs
We examine contractual obligations, unreasonable clauses and a missing balancing of interests. This can give rise to claims for restoration or injunctive relief that can be enforced in court.
GWB
Abuse of market power
Relevant for platforms with market power, economically significant accounts and suspensions without sound reasons or a hearing. Market position, impact and legal basis of the claim must be built up carefully for this.
Legal basis
What do courts examine in account suspensions?
| Court | Decision | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Court of Justice | Federal Court of Justice, judgment of 29.07.2021, III ZR 179/20 and III ZR 192/20Social networks may set communication standards and sanction violations. However, suspensions without prior information, a hearing and the possibility of reassessment can be challenged. | If there was no hearing before the suspension, this can be a first starting point for the demand for reassessment. |
| Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf | Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, judgment of 02.04.2025, VI-U (Kart) 5/24Blocking a Facebook page without reasons and an opportunity to comment can, where there is corresponding market power, constitute an obstructive abuse in breach of competition law. | For company pages, competition law can give rise to a claim in addition to contract law. |
Case law follows a clearer line than in the past. Platforms may act against rule violations. The more an account is used for communication, earning income, reach or customer contact, the more closely reasons, hearing, proportionality, burden of proof, platform power, jurisdiction and urgency count.
The platform must provide more than a keyword. "Violation of Community Standards", "account integrity", "spam" or "security" is not sufficient in our reading if it is not apparent what specifically is supposed to have happened and how a review is possible. In our experience, information, specific reasons and an opportunity to comment are often decisive points of attack in account suspensions. In content removals, the chronological sequence may have to be assessed differently.
The value of the account belongs in the argument. The number of followers alone is not decisive. More important are the business function, link to revenue, ongoing collaborations, campaigns, customer communication, contractual commitments, data access and threatened reputational damage.
The DSA and P2B sharpen procedural expectations. Under Art. 17 DSA, the platform must give clear and specific reasons for a suspension. Art. 20 DSA requires an internal complaint-handling system that is available for at least six months from the notification. Art. 21 DSA additionally opens up a certified out-of-court dispute settlement body. For business users, Art. 4 of the P2B Regulation governs reasons and notice periods for restriction, suspension and termination.
Interim relief needs substance. Strong factors are economic disadvantages, ongoing campaigns, sponsorship, link to revenue or threatened account deletion. Waiting a long time after learning of the suspension can jeopardise the urgency required. The courts measure this period differently, so we clarify it early.
- Digital Services Act (EUR-Lex) Art. 17 statement of reasons, Art. 20 internal complaint handling, Art. 21 out-of-court dispute settlement.
- DSA user portal of the Federal Network Agency Complaints about platforms to the Digital Services Coordinator.
- P2B Regulation (EUR-Lex) Transparency, restriction, suspension and termination for business users.
- Federal Court of Justice, press release on III ZR 179/20 and III ZR 192/20 Communication standards, information, hearing and reassessment.
- Higher Regional Court of Bamberg, 4 U 62/25 e Continuing to use existing channels is not circumvention.
- Higher Regional Court of Nuremberg, 3 W 1224/25 Kart Contractual classification and place of jurisdiction.
Limits
When is a suspension difficult to challenge?
We tell you openly when an attack has little prospect of success. Case law helps above all where platforms do not give specific reasons for suspensions or do not allow an effective hearing.
- 1
Clear rule violation If the alleged violation is clearly proven and the platform's procedure is properly documented, the prospects of success fall considerably. There is no guarantee of reinstatement.
- 2
Hacked account If there is no moderation decision but third-party access or identity misuse, recovery via the platform comes first.
- 3
Wrong place of jurisdiction With international platforms, a wrongly chosen legal basis or jurisdiction can significantly weaken the court route. We check this before any urgent proceedings.
Why many reinstatement attempts fail
- A wrong procedural route. A hack, a moderation suspension and a Business Manager block need different arguments.
- Too little evidence. Without screenshots, times, account status and communication history, relevance is hard to show.
- Only an emotional complaint. In our experience, platforms rarely respond to indignation, more to facts, review of the rules and a clear demand.
- Escalating too late. If data deletion is imminent or ads are running, lost time weakens the evidence.
- Economic function not set out: a channel with customer service, campaigns, sponsorship or a shop connection must be assessed differently from a purely private profile.
Your contact
Lawyer · Media, press and copyright law · Social media law
View profile Düsseldorf, Schirmerstraße 80 · Hamburg, Palmaille 124
At ITMR, Jean Paul Bohne, Andreas Buchholz and Dr. Alexander Pleh hold the title of specialist lawyer for information technology law.
ReviewsWe do not check reviews of us on other platforms that we do not quote verbatim for authenticity. They may therefore also come from people who are not our clients. The rules of the respective platform apply. Reviews that we quote verbatim on our website, by contrast, have been checked for authenticity within the meaning of Section 5b(3) UWG (German Act against Unfair Competition): we compared the reviewers’ names with our client register. We also asked the respective platform to check the reviews for authenticity.
What clients say
5,0 von 5 · 71 Bewertungen auf anwalt.dePeriod: October 2018 to date · As of: 28 October 2026
“He looked after me excellently, explained the legal basis thoroughly and guided me competently through the entire process. His support was not only extremely helpful but also successful.” (translated from German)
“In a copyright matter concerning a layout, we were supported competently, with commitment and extremely kindly in the pre-trial proceedings. … clear communication and a realistic assessment of the prospects of success.” (translated from German)
“In the meantime, the court hearing has taken place and I won! Without the qualified support of Mr Bohne, lawyer, beforehand, I would probably not have been able to prove my innocence.” (translated from German)
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about social media account suspensions
Which accounts are we the right contact for?
Our focus is on accounts used for business, company profiles, creator businesses and platform accounts with a professional public presence or economic significance.
When is legal support worthwhile in the event of a suspension?
Above all when the account is important for business, the reasons remain unclear, appeals fail, advertising or monetisation functions are affected or permanent deactivation is imminent.
Can a platform simply suspend an account?
Platforms may enforce their terms of use. However, the suspension must be justified in the specific case. In particular, we examine the reason for the suspension, the reasoning, proportionality, the possibility of complaint and the contractual basis.
Source: Federal Court of Justice, press release on III ZR 179/20 and III ZR 192/20
What role does the Digital Services Act play?
The DSA is important when platform decisions have to be reasoned, challenged and reviewed. It does not replace the substantive review. However, it can be decisive for procedures, transparency and complaint channels.
Is the P2B Regulation relevant to social media accounts?
It can become relevant for platform accounts used commercially. This applies if a business organises goods, services, visibility or customer contacts via the platform and its use is restricted or terminated.
When does competition law help against Meta, Instagram or Facebook?
Competition law can become relevant if a platform with market power suspends an economically important account without sound reasons, a hearing or an objective ground. For this, we carefully build up market position, impact and the legal basis of the claim.
Is a support ticket or a lawyer's letter more helpful?
That depends on the type of case and the stage. In our mandates, the correct platform route often has to be used first, with documentation. If necessary, the lawyer's demand follows.
Can we guarantee reinstatement?
No. A promise would not be serious. Whether an account is reinstated is decided by the platform or a court.
Is it only about Facebook, Instagram and X?
No. We represent business-relevant social media and platform accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitch and comparable professional channels.
How quickly do we receive an initial assessment?
We will get back to you within 24 hours on working days. If deletion is imminent or campaigns are running, we first clarify whether urgent proceedings are an option.
Get started
Have your account suspension reviewed in a structured way
If a business account is blocked, an orderly response counts. We choose the appropriate route and use the legal means in a targeted way.
This helps us with the first review
- Link to the account, channel, Business Manager or ad account
- Screenshots of the suspension notice and all platform messages
- Time of the suspension and previous appeal or support attempts
- Indications of the alleged rule violation and previous warnings
- Business use, affected campaigns, collaborations and revenue
- Agency, management or role structure around the account
- Proof of identity, trade mark ownership or chain of rights
- Deadlines, imminent deletion or specific consequential damage
Most helpful are the link to the account, the suspension notice and a short description of what the account is used for in business.
Enquiry about account suspension
For business accounts, creator businesses, company profiles, ad accounts and professional presences.
Helpful are the suspension notice, screenshots of the account status and a short assessment of the economic consequences.
Related services
Social media law For campaigns, creator set-ups, platform rules, community management, labelling and channel-related risks.Media law For publications, content conflicts, platform communication, balancing of rights and media law disputes.Media and communications law For the overarching assessment of platform access, public communication and economically sensitive visibility.Influencer law For creator contracts, campaigns, paid usage, labelling, collaborations and platform measures.Copyright law For content rights, use of images, music, videos, licences, takedowns and rights complaints.Trade mark law For signs, fake shops, trade mark complaints, impersonation and platform reports.Litigation and litigation PR For enforcement in court, urgent proceedings, strategic escalation and publicly visible conflicts.Hate speech and reputation protection Take action against attacks on your reputation.Implement the DSA Implement platform obligations.
From our blog: Account suspension: first immediate steps · Account suspension before the Higher Regional Court · Merchant account suspended