Social media giant Facebook has recently announced strict policing of illegal gun sales on Facebook and Instagram. The company said it would delete all posts pertaining to sales of weapons that do not comply with existing laws and do not offer background check. “We will not permit people to post offers to sell regulated items that indicate a willingness to evade or help others evade the law,” stated the company.
Facebook’s new policy mentions clearly that “private sellers of firearms in the U.S. will not be permitted to specify “no background check required,” nor can they offer to transact across state lines without a licensed firearms dealer.”
The announcement on “Educational and Enforcement Measures” made by Monika Bickert, Head of Facebook’s Global Policy Management, acknowledged the company was “grateful in particular for the advice offered by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Americans for Responsible Solutions, Sandy Hook Promise, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and Moms Demand Action.” The company said the mentioned organizations “helped us develop an approach for the private sale of firearms. We also appreciate the feedback provided by the Facebook Safety Advisory Board.”
The company further went on to say “Facebook and Instagram will continue to remove content, and notify law enforcement where appropriate, when we are notified about things shared on our services that suggest a direct, credible risk to others’ safety. We will also continue to strictly enforce our advertising policies.”
According to Mayors Against Illegal Guns, one of the organizations instrumental in influencing Facebook to make policy changes regarding illegal gun sales, thousands of guns are sold online and illegally to purchasers with criminal histories.
With this policy change on gun sales, Facebook joins other companies like Google, Craigslist and Amazon who already disallow online gun sales without proper background verifications.