Kathrine Frich
The lawsuits were submitted last week to the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The lawsuits were submitted last week to the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Tate Brothers Sue Meta and TikTok for Account Bans
Controversial influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate have filed lawsuits against Meta and TikTok, accusing the tech giants of defamation and unlawful censorship.
The brothers claim their bans, issued in 2022, destroyed their reputations and income.
Lawsuits Filed in Los Angeles Court
The lawsuits were submitted last week to the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The brothers are seeking over $50 million in damages from each platform, arguing that their social media accounts were removed without fair warning or proper justification.
Banned for Violating Platform Rules
In 2022, Meta banned the Tates from Instagram and Facebook, while TikTok and other platforms followed suit.
The bans were due to violations of community guidelines, specifically targeting harmful or hateful content. YouTube and Twitter also removed them at the time.
Accusations of a “Coordinated Campaign”
According to court filings, the Tate brothers allege that the bans were not simple enforcement actions, but part of a larger, coordinated effort to “silence and destroy” their public image.
They claim this effort was targeted and politically motivated.
Impact on Business and Livelihood
The brothers argue that their social media presence was essential to their business model.
Their personal brand, which drove merchandise, online courses, and paid subscriptions, relied on visibility.
Losing access to these platforms caused “substantial and irreparable” financial harm.
No Mention of Google or YouTube
While the pair were also banned from YouTube, the current lawsuits focus only on TikTok and Meta-owned platforms.
There is no legal action, for now, against YouTube or its parent company, Google.
Tates Say They Were Banned Without Warning
The legal complaints allege that the bans came suddenly, with no prior notification or chance to appeal.
They argue this violated the platforms’ own terms of service and breached the implied contract between creators and platforms.
Still Active on Elon Musk’s X
Although banned from many platforms, the Tate brothers were allowed back on Twitter (now X) after Elon Musk took over.
Since their return, they’ve continued to post frequently, using X as their main platform to reach followers.
Legal Action Amid Serious Criminal Charges
Both brothers are facing serious legal trouble. In Romania, they’ve been charged with human trafficking, and Andrew Tate also faces rape charges.
In the UK, they’ve also been indicted on rape and other criminal counts. They deny all allegations.
