Facebook has announced a ban, on its platforms, of ads promoting weapon accessories and protective equipment – at least through January 22.
In an update to its Inauguration Day preparations, this weekend, Facebook has banned ads that promote weapon accessories and protective equipment in the US at least through January 22, 2020, out of what it calls “an abundance of caution.”
Facebook already prohibits ads on its platforms for weapons, ammo, and weapon enhancements, but will also now ban ads for weapon accessories, including gun safes, vests, and holsters.
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On Friday, Guy Rosen, Facebook’s VP of Integrity, and Monika Bickert, VP Global Policy Management, published another update to preparations for Inauguration day, explaining that Facebook is “monitoring for signals of violence or other threats both in Washington, D.C. and across all 50 states.”
The company has also paused political advertising, on its platforms, to prevent its services from being used for violence.
This comes only weeks after the violent insurrection at the US Capitol and includes limitations to Groups and Events as well. Specifically, as of Friday, Facebook has banned the creation of new Facebook Events that would happen close to the White House, the US Capitol, and other buildings through the Inauguration.
Non-US based accounts and Pages are also banned from creating events in the US.
People in the US that have repeatedly violated policies will be restricted, and won’t be able to create live videos, Events, Groups, or Pages. Finally, in an effort to stamp out the Stop the Steal movement, Facebook is removing content containing the phrase “stop the steal,” under its Coordinating Harm policy.
The original Stop the Steal group was removed in November 20202, and Facebook says it has continued to “remove Pages, groups, and events that violate any of [its] policies, including calls for violence.”