INDIANAPOLIS — An attorney who shares the same name as the billionaire founder of Facebook is taking legal action against Meta Platforms Inc. over repeated suspensions of his social media accounts. Mark Zuckerberg, a bankruptcy lawyer in Indianapolis, claims that the social media giant is incorrectly labeling him an impersonator of its CEO.
Zuckerberg has faced identity issues on Facebook for over 15 years, resulting in multiple account suspensions. His verified personal profile has been taken down five times, with the most recent incident happening in May. This suspension cost him $11,000 in advertising funds for his law practice. Frustrated by the ongoing challenges, he filed a lawsuit against Meta in Marion Superior Court on Tuesday, alleging negligence and breach of contract.
“This isn’t just a minor inconvenience,” said Zuckerberg. “It’s impacting my ability to run my law practice and attract new clients.” The attorney pointed out that losing access to his advertising tools has had direct consequences for his business, making it difficult for potential clients to find him online.
In his legal complaint, Zuckerberg recounted that his account was first suspended in 2010, and each time he has had to endure a lengthy appeals process. Often, this has required him to provide extensive documentation, including photographs and identification, to prove his identity and clarify that he is not misrepresenting himself.
“It’s frustrating to think that a company so advanced in technology struggles to acknowledge that I am not the same person as their CEO,” he stated. Despite joking about the advantages of sharing a name with a high-profile tech mogul, he expressed his exasperation over the frequent confusion.
In addition to dealing with account suspensions, Zuckerberg has faced ongoing issues in his personal life—his law firm receives numerous calls from users seeking help with their social media accounts and even receives packages intended for the other Mark Zuckerberg. In 2020, he was mistakenly sued by a Washington State agency for financial exploitation.
To document these issues, he created an online platform tracking both personal and professional mix-ups triggered by mistaken identity. Though he acknowledges the headaches this has caused, he continues to rely on platforms like Facebook for marketing purposes and to remain competitive with other local law firms.
Zuckerberg insists that he wants a resolution that includes a refund of his advertising funds and compensation for his legal fees. He also demands a court injunction to prevent further unwarranted suspensions. “It would be great if the other Mark Zuckerberg came out here, handed me a check, and apologized,” he said, though he acknowledges that this is unlikely.
A spokesperson for Meta stated that the company is currently reviewing the lawsuit. They also noted that they are aware of the multiple individuals who share the name Mark Zuckerberg and are working to resolve the matter.
This case highlights ongoing issues of mistaken identity in the digital age, raising questions about how social media platforms handle user verification.
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