Social media giant Facebook, has ban private individuals from advertising guns on Facebook and Instagram. The photo-sharing service company said but Licensed firearm retailers will still be able to advertise on the site.
The move comes three weeks after US President Barack Obama unveiled new restrictions on gun purchases. Facebook already prohibits people from offering marijuana, pharmaceuticals and illegal drugs for sale, and the company said on Friday that it was updating its policy to include guns.
Monika Bickert, Facebook’s head of product policy, said in a statement. “We are continuing to develop, test, and launch new products to make this experience even better for people and are updating our regulated goods policies to reflect this evolution.”
New York’s attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, who has pressed for restrictions on illegal gun sales on Facebook and other sites, praised the company’s move.
“Today’s announcement is another positive step toward our shared goal of stopping illegal online gun sales once and for all,” he said in a statement on Friday.