In an effort to stop the illegal sale of guns online, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has partnered with both Facebook and Instagram to make it harder for gun dealers to use social media.
After reviewing the necessary steps it would need to take to stop illegal sales, including blocking posts from gun sellers claiming that "they would not perform background checks," Facebook and Instagram agreed to the partnership that will hopefully stop the sites from becoming a black market for guns. According to the announcement from the AG's office:
Facebook and Instagram will not permit users to post offers to sell or buy firearms that indicate intent to evade or help others evade the law. This includes, for example, posts that advertise “no background check required.”
Facebook will block users under 18 years of age from viewing reported Page and Timeline posts involving private gun sales, and it will implement in-product education “checkpoints” that inform users that private gun sales might be regulated or prohibited in their location, and that background checks may be required. The checkpoints will occur for all users reported for posting a gun for sale, for all Facebook pages reported for promoting private gun sales, and for all Instagram-based searches for hashtags identified as promoting gun sales.
Facebook will work with advocacy groups to create a targeted ad campaign on the site that will educate users about their responsibilities under the law and to ensure safe firearms transactions, including conducting background checks.
"By taking these unprecedented educational and enforcement steps, we’ve been able to strike an important balance in helping people express themselves, while promoting a safe and responsible community," Monika Bickert, Facebook’s Head of Global Policy Management, said in a press release.
In addition, Facebook's in-product education “checkpoints” will help educate users about their local gun laws, and whether their online purchase might not be in compliance with them. A 2011 study by the city of New York found that 62% of private gun sellers agreed to sell a gun to a buyer who said they would probably not pass a background check.
