Update: Facebook has since restored access for the KDE applications and plugins, as well as re-adding the missing photos. Apparently the removal was a mistake caused by one of Facebook’s automated systems.
Facebook has banned KDE applications from uploading pictures to users profiles – with no clear reason as to why.
But if you think that’s a #fail in itself, the social-networking site has reportedly removed all photos and albums that were uploaded using the now-banned applications and plugins.
Attempting to upload an image through an application that uses KIPI – the KDE Image Plugin Interface - results in the following error: –
“Facebook Call Failed: Invalid API key”
Applications currently affected include Gwenview and Digikam.
At the time of writing this does not affect GNOME applications such as Shotwell or F-Spot.
Appeals Process
But all is not, quite literally in this case, lost: An appeals procedure to reverse an application ban and restore deleted photos exists.
A bug report has been filed with Facebook with the hope of getting KIPI re-enabled. You can help speed things up by voting (but not commenting) on it @ bugs.developers.facebook.net/show_bug.cgi?id=18701
In the mean time this kerfuffle should be a clear reminder to all that you can never have too many back-ups both online and offline.