Facebook Cracks Down on Gun Posts with New Regulations

Facebook Cracks Down on Gun Posts with New Regulations

  • By Ginger Hill
  • Mar 06, 2014

Facebook cracks down on gun postWhen it comes to anything security related, I try to stay as up-to-date as possible, but honestly, selling guns on Facebook and Instagram?! I find this odd because that’s the last place I would look if I wanted to buy anything online, choosing to find my bargains at places like Etsy.com, Amazon and sometimes, Ebay. Besides, what happened to needing a background check to purchase a gun? Or, what about having to be a licensed firearms dealer to sell them? How do you virtually check either of these? Impossible.

Social network giant, Facebook, has outlined some new rules to stop users from illegally promoting the sale of private firearms on their network by:

  • Limiting posts on Facebook and Instagram that discuss the sale of firearms to users that are over 18 years of age; (easy to manipulate your age when signing up for a Facebook account)
  • Preventing the posting of offers to sell regulated items that would help people evade the law; (Who or what technology is going to be used to actively police such a large network?)
  • Warning people promoting the private sale of weapons to comply with relevant laws; (Most people skip over warning messages anyway); and
  • Introducing “in-app education” on Instagram that will remind firearm sellers to check their local laws to make sure transactions are legitimate. (Are people really going to pay attention to this?)

Facebook worked with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Sandy Hook Promise, Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America to develop these new regulations; however, opposition groups are saying that Facebook caved from the pressure of the aforementioned groups and that these new policies unconstitutionally limit the rights of gun owners.

Okay, readers, it’s time for you to voice your opinion.

Do you agree with Facebook’s new policies as it relates to firearms? Or, do you think that even with these regulations, if someone really wanted to purchase a firearm, they are going to do it anyway?

Do you think Facebook’s new regulations violate your Second Amendment rights?

Image credit: Thinglass / Shutterstock.com

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services

  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.