Meta apologizes after suspending No Kings Instagram account during protests, citing bot traffic

Meta apologized on Sunday for suspending the Instagram account of the No Kings movement, which went dark for several hours during the group's latest nationwide demonstration on Saturday. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a statement that the company's engineering team traced the incorrect enforcement to a spike in bot traffic. The No Kings coalition has organized pro-democracy protests that have drawn millions of Americans into the streets in recent years. The group said Meta owes it an explanation, and organizers voiced frustration and fear of censorship over the temporary shutdown.

Right-leaning outlets had not reported the story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative outlets had. Left-leaning coverage, from The Guardian US, leads with the outrage, organizers' censorship worries and their demand for an explanation. Alternative coverage, from The Hill, leads with Meta's apology and its bot-traffic explanation, citing Stone. Both confirm the suspension during Saturday's protests; the difference is emphasis on organizers' concerns versus the company's account of the cause.