Lawyer Mark Zuckerberg Sues Meta, Claims Name-Based Discrimination
Indianapolis, IN – September 6, 2025 – An Indiana bankruptcy lawyer named Mark S. Zuckerberg is taking legal action against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, alleging that his personal and business accounts were repeatedly disabled due to his name being mistaken for that of Meta’s CEO, Mark E. Zuckerberg. The lawyer, who has practiced under his given name for over 38 years, claims he’s had the name longer than the tech mogul and is suing for damages after losing over $11,000 in advertising fees.
According to court documents, Mark S. Zuckerberg’s accounts were suspended at least five times over the past eight years, with Meta citing “impersonating a celebrity” or using an “inauthentic name” as the reason. Despite providing identification, including his driver’s license, credit cards, and facial images to verify his identity, the attorney faced ongoing disruptions. “It’s not funny,” Zuckerberg told Indianapolis news channel WTHR. “Not when they take my money. It’s like buying a billboard on the side of the highway, paying for it, and then they cover it up.”
The lawsuit, filed in Indiana, accuses Meta of breach of contract, negligence, promissory estoppel, and violating the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Between 2022 and 2025, Zuckerberg paid over $11,000 to advertise his law practice on Facebook, only to see his ads removed and accounts deactivated, costing him potential clients and revenue. He argues that Meta’s actions have hindered his ability to use his legal name, which he was given before the Meta CEO was born.
Mark S. Zuckerberg has faced other challenges due to his name, which he detailed on his website in a list titled “Things that have happened to me because my name is Mark S Zuckerberg (I give it Zero likes).” These include being mistakenly sued by the State of Washington, having his Facebook account hacked repeatedly, and receiving over 753 requests for money from people on 23andMe claiming to be relatives. At a Las Vegas event, a limo driver holding a sign with his name caused chaos when a crowd assumed he was the tech billionaire.
In one email exchange with Meta, Zuckerberg wrote, “If you happen to run into the younger, richer Mark Zuckerberg, tell him I say hi and he causes me great aggravation each day.” Despite years of communication with Meta, including submitting government-issued IDs, his accounts were repeatedly flagged, requiring manual reinstatement by Meta employees.
A Meta spokesperson told Sky News that the company has reinstated Zuckerberg’s account, stating it was “disabled in error” and that steps are being taken to prevent future issues. However, the lawyer remains frustrated, arguing that the damage to his business and reputation is done. “I just want to use my name in peace,” he said in an email to Meta.
The case highlights the challenges of sharing a name with a high-profile figure in the digital age, where automated systems can flag legitimate users as impostors. Legal experts suggest the lawsuit could prompt Meta to refine its account verification processes, especially for users with common or notable names. For now, Mark S. Zuckerberg is determined to reclaim his online presence—and his name.