Facebook initiates measures to crack down on illegal gun sales
07 Mar 2014
Facebook has introduced new regulations aimed at cracking down on sales of guns via the network and Instagram.
The regulations have been introduced a few months following news reports of private gun sales being transacted via Instagram.
"While we've recently heard specific concerns from people about offers for the private sales of firearms, this is one of many areas where we face a difficult challenge balancing individuals' desire to express themselves on our services, and recognising that this speech may have consequences elsewhere," it said in a blog post.
The revised set of regulations would now allow Facebook to send a message to sellers. The message would remind the seller to comply with local laws and regulations.
"We will also limit access to that post to people over the age of 18."
A disclaimer would have to be entered on pages dedicated to gun sales warning people on compliance with local laws. The page itself would not be accessible to people below 18 years.
"We will not permit people to post offers to sell regulated items that indicate a willingness to evade or help others evade the law. For example, private sellers of firearms in the US 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 social network will delete posts where users declare a willingness to break the law, such as to sell a gun without a background check or its transport across US state lines, the company the blog post warned.
The action comes as the social network responded to criticism from advocacy groups, such as Mayors Against Illegal Guns. The groups have been lobbying Facebook for months to regulate users' posts about firearms for sale on their profiles and group pages.
The groups contend that while no money changes hands on the site, it enables illegal sales by not policing the conversations.
Facebook said it was working hard to find a solution that would not limit free expression.