WhatsApp Faces Class-Action Lawsuit in Israel Over Account Bans

A class-action lawsuit seeking over 2.5 million shekels has been filed against WhatsApp in Israel's Central District Court. The suit, brought by attorneys Guy Ofir and Victoria Reznik, alleges that Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, has engaged in arbitrary, systematic, and illegal suspension of user and business accounts in Israel. The plaintiffs accuse the platform of disregarding good faith obligations and consumer protection laws.

The lawsuit criticizes WhatsApp's automated monitoring mechanisms, stating that accounts are repeatedly suspended without prior notice, detailed explanations of alleged violations, opportunities to rectify issues, or a human review process. The claim highlights that this issue has affected hundreds, possibly thousands, of Israeli users recently, and Meta itself has acknowledged errors in its blocking system.

The lead plaintiff is "Tick Travel," a travel company from Rishon Le-Zion, and its manager Dan Amram, whose WhatsApp Business account was suspended three times in eight months. The suit argues that the initial two suspensions were automatically reversed without explanation, indicating no actual violation occurred, while the third suspension was permanent, preventing appeals and damaging the business's reputation and communication channels.

Legally, the suit relies on a Supreme Court precedent establishing that global corporations operating in Israel are subject to Israeli law. The plaintiffs contend that WhatsApp's terms allowing disconnection "at any time and for any reason" are unfair contract terms that should be voided, alongside claims of negligence in operating a flawed and unchecked blocking algorithm.

The plaintiffs are seeking an immediate reversal of all unlawful account suspensions, implementation of a fair notice and correction mechanism, and establishment of a customer service system with human support. They also demand compensation for financial damages and emotional distress, and accurate data on the number of Israeli accounts suspended over the past seven years. Meta has stated it does not comment on legal proceedings.