'It's sheer panic': Ottawa restaurateur says Meta wrongly banned her business accounts

Laurie Viau Gillard woke up on Sept. 26 to an Instagram notification that she says sent her into a panic.

The Meta-owned social media app informed Viau Gillard, co-owner of a small restaurant in Kanata, that her account had been suspended. Her Facebook account was also suspended.

"Everything had completely vanished," Viau Gillard said. "It was quite devastating at the time to be honest, because it's the way that we reach all of our customers on a daily basis.”

Viau Gillard handles the marketing and administration for Amuse Kitchen & Wine, posting its menu and other information exclusively on social media. When Meta suspended her accounts, she lost access to 2,000 followers — and potential diners.

"It's sheer panic because a small business will build their business on social media,” she