Why does Facebook Graph API say my account is non-active?

Question

We have some code that uses Facebook Open Graph API to display some posts on our home page. It was originally developed by a previous developer and I rewrote it in ASP.NET MVC for our home page (where before it was PHP which I believe was loaded in an iframe). At that time, I used the app ID and secret that were left to me. This has functioned fine for a couple of years. This afternoon, we started getting an error back on our site: "Access to this data is temporarily disabled for non-active accounts due to changes we are making to the Facebook Platform".

No sweat. I figured I just needed to update our ID and secret. Unfortunately, no one seems to remember the user ID that was in control of that app ID. No sweat. I'll make my own. Unfortunately, any ID and secret I use to access posts -- even my own posts on a page totally not related to work -- returns the same access error. I can get name or cover or some other fields, but as soon as I request any posts, I get the error.

Here's an example of what I'm trying:

https://graph.facebook.com/MyCompanyName?fields=cover,name,likes,link,posts.limit(5){created_time,message,link,type,full_picture,picture,source,icon}&access_token=bunchofnumbers|bunchofnumbersandletters

I am aware of the status post at https://developers.facebook.com/status/issues/205942813488872/, but I think I must be doing something wrong since I can't even create new appIDs to get posts with.

Why does Facebook Graph API say my account is non-active?

Thanks.

I'm facing the same issue for fetching the users' groups. Was working all right about 2 hours ago... — Sahil Deliwala, Mar 21 '18 at 23:50
I am experiencing this issue too, graph explorer working but I am using PHP sdk and graph token also doesn't work with PHP SDK — Diego Ponciano, Mar 22 '18 at 01:13
I'm also facing same issue when I try to fetch information regarding to pages of users (I have got permission for that by fb) — Aakash Gupta, Mar 22 '18 at 04:38
I woke up to find the issue resolved this morning. That was a nice morning surprise. I wish the message had been more descriptive or helpful, however. "Please don't scramble to rewrite code on your website. We're just making a few adjustments." — mrcoulson, Mar 22 '18 at 12:31
I believe the non active account error is a bit more broad than a user account that has not logged in over a period of time. i was receiving the same error but this after noon my app was vetted and has returned to normal. All i can say is have patients and wait, all things should clear up as each application is reviewed. — ShawnDaGeek, Mar 22 '18 at 17:21
Is the problem fixed for everybody or I am the only one still facing this issue ? — Baudev, Mar 26 '18 at 17:40
I am still facing this issue for usergroups. Hopefully Facebook makes changes and fixes soon. — Mark, Mar 28 '18 at 03:08
Does anyone fixed this issue somehow? I mean re-send app to FB review, grand more/less permissions, etc.? — Zoreslav Goral, Apr 20 '18 at 10:37

Amit Kumar · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-22T12:34:07.170

27

Please read this article:

Mark Zuckerberg apologises for Facebook's 'mistakes' over Cambridge Analytica

Cambridge University researcher named Aleksandr Kogan had used an app to extract the information of more than 50 million people, and then transferred it to Cambridge Analytica for commercial and political use.

So facebook is changing its policies so that the personal data could be made more secure.

Until then you cant do anything about it.

edited Mar 22 '18 at 12:34

answered Mar 22 '18 at 07:48

Amit Kumar

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1

Still not working, and I don't call for events, etc. Works for nothing, eg. simple `/feed?fields=name`. Any more info when it becomes to work, or how to run than anyway? – pavel Apr 10 '18 at 17:23
I would like to download information about events only, no personal data and I still get this notification. Am I doing something wrong? – Hendrra Apr 30 '18 at 14:18

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 22 '18 at 10:25

3

I solved the problem on my website by removing the events from the fetched fields list

answered Mar 22 '18 at 10:25

A. Dabak

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I do not know if this is a real solution to this problem. But it fixed my immediate issue! – Daan Mar 22 '18 at 10:30
1

No, it is not a solution, but it make my website works again, until a better solution comes – A. Dabak Mar 22 '18 at 10:40
@A.Dabak thanks for the hint, but events are all what I want - fail :D – Zarathustra Mar 28 '18 at 15:12

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 23 '18 at 22:29

We started seeing this same error message on our platform today. I think there are a few things going on that all tie together:

As others have mentioned, there have been rapid and major responses by Facebook to increase data protection and privacy in light of the Cambridge Analytica incident. From what I understand, the bad actors exploited the ability access the data of Users (via the graph) that the app did not have an active, first-party relationship with. So, sort of like how "6 degrees of separation" would get you the whole planet, the 1 degree of separation on the few-hundred-thousand Users that connected with the app directly gave the app access to roughly 50 Million users...or something like that. FB is doing what they can to lock that stuff down now, big time.
The specific cause of your error is that something you're asking for in the fields parameter makes a leap (from the either the myCompany or the OAuth'd User/App whose access_token you are using) to a related item/items that FB now deems must have an "active" first-party/direct relationship with your Company/App/User in order to access. This is why you see the somewhat cryptic "non-active accounts" mentioning. I think they really mean that it's not "active with you or your app".

I'm not sure which one of the fields you request is at fault, but some trial-and-error will lead you to it. For us, it was clear: we were asking for the Members of all the Groups that User had access to. We didn't need that, so we cut it out and the error went away.

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 11 '18 at 19:33

2

Facebook today updated the term and conditions https://developers.facebook.com/docs/graph-api/changelog/breaking-changes/?translation&hc_location=ufi#groups-4-4

answered Apr 11 '18 at 19:33

David Hackro

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Denis Angell · Answer 5 · 2018-03-22T00:52:48.377

1

My understanding is that if your not a production app, they are limiting your for specific reasons. Unclear if thats because of Cambridge Leak, or upgrading the instagram api.

I also received the same error, however, if you are testing, you can hard code the graph api explorer token into your app to continue testing...

var data {
    'accessToken': 'EEAC...',
}

FB.api('/' + id, getData, data, (_response) => {
    console.log(_response);
});

edited Mar 22 '18 at 00:52

answered Mar 22 '18 at 00:46

Denis Angell

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Oh wow! I'm sorry man! I was testing and so It helped me solve a problem. Good Luck! – Denis Angell Mar 22 '18 at 01:00
What scopes do you have btw? https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2018/03/cracking-down-on-platform-abuse/ – Denis Angell Mar 22 '18 at 03:20
@Denis: What do you mean exactly with limiting? I have a app which is in development mode and of course I want to check if everything is working before I change to production. Will it be not possible to fetch facebook-posts with a app in development mode? – Tobias Apr 24 '18 at 09:09
Ok, I found the paragraph which was posted by David Heckro below. This answered my question. – Tobias Apr 24 '18 at 09:51

score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Apr 01 '18 at 09:32

Right now I am working with Facebook Open Graph API. And I was having this error every time I wanted to access/get the member (and their basic info) of the groups I am Admin.

{
  "error": {
 "message": "(#200) Access to this data is temporarily disabled for non-active accounts due to changes we are making to the Facebook Platform",
"type": "OAuthException",
"code": 200,
"fbtrace_id": "Byueyj6MtkoIx"
 }
}

In between trial and error @JoshChristy was getting all the desired results! And after couple hours of research we discovered that facebook recognize some account as "non-active" and some "active" (I don't know based on what!) because I am pretty much active in facebook. So, if you are getting this error that means you are not active enough for facebook ;)

FB is total BS! so long to that promise from Mark to "not brake API's during two years" @#$ — AmitP, Apr 05 '18 at 19:44

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Mar 22 '18 at 05:05

0

I had this problem. It's solved automatically. I think it's a Facebook issue.

answered Mar 22 '18 at 05:05

yasaryousuf

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score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Mar 22 '18 at 12:35

0

For me it work if I leave just one field - "name". If I add "link" and/or "events" fields it returns error

answered Mar 22 '18 at 12:35

Zoreslav Goral

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I tried this, but for me, it has the same error result even if I leave only 'name' for fields. – Kisded Szabi - CodeRevolution Mar 23 '18 at 10:04

score 0 · Answer 9 · answered Apr 12 '18 at 10:01

I was able to get Facebook Page Access token using the method below.

For anyone who may already have an app which has been reviewed can use that app's details as a temporary fix until Facebook is done with their API enhancements. Meaning you'll have to add the relevant redirect uris to the reviewed app as well as use that app's App Id and App Secret.

This works for retrieving page feeds and leads, I wasn't able to retrieve conversations. Also the permissions I requested were { scope: 'ads_management,ads_read,manage_pages' }

score 0 · Answer 10 · answered Apr 24 '18 at 04:23

In our case, we retrieved, for example, a page access_token with a page ID using like this:

this.call('v2.12/'+pageid, 'GET', {fields: "access_token"}, token)

ended up with the error you mentioned.

However, we took a normal approach and all looks good now. https://developers.facebook.com/docs/facebook-login/access-tokens#pagetokens

score 0 · Answer 11 · answered Apr 24 '18 at 17:04

0

Same thing I just noticed too, and they kept my lead gen ads running and charging me eventhough they blocked the data.

Luckily going into ad manager directly you can still download the CSV/XLS files.

answered Apr 24 '18 at 17:04

J-a-n-u-s

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score -6 · Answer 12 · answered Mar 23 '18 at 10:31

What is issue? This error is due to recent action taken by Facebook. They said ” Access to certain types of API data is paused for non-active accounts due to changes we are making to the Facebook Platform” So if your account is non-active and you have created App using it then it might possible you get this error in your Plugin. Facebook Issue link is

When it will resolved? Facebook has temporarily disabled some non-active accounts as they mentioned they haven’t given any estimated time to fix issue but it should get activated soon.

You can find more update on facebook Event API here

This answer adds no information than what was stated in the error message, and is not helpful. — Brad, Mar 23 '18 at 16:39

Why does Facebook Graph API say my account is non-active?

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