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Facebook Expands Online Commerce Role, But Says "No Guns, Please"

Posted by timothy on from the blunt-objects-next-on-the-list dept.

The New York Times reports that Facebook's newly staked-out role as a site to facilitate local, person-to-person sales (ala Craigslist) has a new wrinkle: the site has announced a site-wide policy restricting firearms sales that applies to personal sales, though not to licensed dealers or gun clubs. According to the story, Although Facebook was not directly involved in gun sales, it has served as a forum for gun sales to be negotiated, without people having to undergo background checks. The social network, with 1.6 billion monthly visitors, had become one of the worldâ(TM)s largest marketplaces for guns and was increasingly evolving into an e-commerce site where it could facilitate transactions of goods. ... Facebook said it would rely on its vast network of users to report any violations of the new rules, and would remove any post that violated the policy. Beyond that, the company said it could ban users or severely limit the ways they post on Facebook, depending on the type and severity of past violations. If the company believed someoneâ(TM)s life was in danger, Facebook would work with law enforcement on the situation. The policy applies as well to private sales that occur using Facebook Messenger, though the company does not scan Messenger exchanges and must rely on user reports.

2 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Too many criminals were buying and selling guns by the thousands on Facebook.

  2. Re:Guns actually protect people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Bullshit. Utter bullshit.

    If you were mugged or burgled, you wouldn't have a hope in hell of defending yourself with your gun; your assailants would have bailed you up long before you had a chance to get your hands on it, and any attempt of yours to get it would probably result in them killing you.

    Seriously, I don't know what the hell is wrong with you Americans. The rest of the developed world is laughing at you. Our crime rates are considerably lower, our murder rates are lower, and yet you morons think your guns *protect* you from this. Get out into the world and have a look around. We have it much better than you.

    Fuck you, I am an action movie hero!