Joomla, a leading provider of open-source Content Management System (CMS), is facing a troubling and unjust situation as its official Facebook page, created in December 2007 and boasting 162,000 page likes, was recently taken down by Meta. The reason given for this action was “impersonation,” leaving Joomla and its vibrant global community without a key platform for engagement and communication.
For 17 years, Joomla’s Facebook page has served as a central hub for community interaction and support, with over 5,800 posts and a following of 158,000 users. It has been a valuable source of updates, resources, and technical discussions that foster innovation and creativity in the web development space. However, despite its longstanding presence and well-documented history, the page was suddenly suspended due to an allegation of “impersonation,” a claim that has left Joomla perplexed.
After initially being suspended by an AI-driven system, Joomla’s team launched a series of appeals, including direct emails to Meta’s appeals team, three rounds of live chats, phone conversations, and a detailed Webex meeting with Meta’s Pro Team. Despite providing ample evidence of its authenticity, Meta has upheld its decision, causing even more confusion around the original claim. Joomla is left wondering who they are being accused of impersonating.
This suspension not only brings frustration but also severely impacts Joomla’s ability to communicate with its vast and loyal user base. Facebook has played a critical role in the development of the Joomla community, and this sudden suspension cuts off an essential line of communication for an open-source organization that thrives on collaboration and user engagement.
Joomla would like to acknowledge Meta’s important role in maintaining platform integrity and ensuring the safety of its users. However, in this case, the decision to permanently suspend Joomla’s page feels unwarranted and inconsistent with Meta’s own policies around fairness and transparency. Joomla has always operated as a legitimate, open-source organization, and there is no evidence of any wrongdoing or “impersonation.”
“We understand and respect Meta’s need to protect its platform, but this suspension simply doesn’t make sense. Our page has been active for nearly two decades, with a massive following that directly engages with Joomla-related content. The allegation of impersonation is both confusing and unfounded,” said Philip Walton, Vice President of Open Source Matters, the non-profit organization supporting The Joomla! Project.
This situation is not unique to Joomla, and it raises broader questions about Meta’s suspension practices, AI-driven decisions, and the human review process. Many organizations, particularly non-profit and open-source projects like Joomla, rely on social platforms like Facebook to engage with their communities. When decisions like this are made arbitrarily, they can have far-reaching impacts on legitimate entities that are contributing positively to the online ecosystem.
Joomla is pleading with Meta to re-examine this case with the seriousness and fairness it deserves. The organization has been a positive contributor to the online space for almost two decades, and the suspension of its Facebook page sends a worrying message to other organizations that depend on the platform to reach their audiences.
Joomla remains committed to working with Meta to resolve this issue and is requesting a fair and transparent review of its case. The restoration of its Facebook page, which serves as a valuable resource for countless individuals worldwide, is also being requested.
About Joomla
Joomla is an open-source content management system (CMS) that has powered millions of websites around the world since its launch in 2005. Known for its flexibility, security, and support for developers, Joomla has an active global community of users and contributors who help maintain and improve the platform for all. In addition to its standalone achievements, Joomla has also partnered with other major open-source CMS platforms such as WordPress, Drupal, and Typo3 to form the Open Website Alliance. This collaborative effort works to protect and promote the interests of open-source website technologies, fostering innovation and cooperation in the web development industry.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.