Meta's social media platforms are hosting thousands of advertisements promoting "fuel filters" that can be easily converted into illegal gun silencers, according to a recent investigation.
The ads, linked to a network of over 100 Facebook pages, market these devices for as little as $50 while demonstrating how they can be modified into firearm suppressors. This practice could result in felony charges if done without proper federal approval.
Under U.S. federal law, silencers require strict regulation - including fingerprinting, background checks, and registration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). While individuals can legally build suppressors, they must first register them with the ATF - a critical detail omitted from these advertisements.
The investigation revealed these ads are connected to hundreds of e-commerce websites, likely operating as part of a Chinese-based drop-shipping operation. The websites frequently share code and IP addresses while selling knockoff products alongside the questionable "fuel filters."
Despite Meta's explicit ban on advertisements promoting weapons and silencers, enforcement has been inconsistent. While some ad campaigns were removed for violations, many continue to run. When alerted to these findings, Meta removed the flagged ads and associated accounts, but similar advertisements quickly reappeared.
The issue has caught the attention of U.S. Department of Defense officials after one such ad was served to military personnel on a Pentagon computer. This has raised concerns about how social media algorithms may be targeting service members.
The proliferation of these ads comes amid rising silencer registrations in the United States, which have grown from 1.3 million in 2017 to nearly 5 million today. In November 2023, the ATF issued a warning about marketing silencers as "solvent traps," emphasizing that functionality, not labeling, determines legality under federal law.
Meta continues to face challenges in preventing the sale of firearms and related products across its platforms, as bad actors evolve their tactics to circumvent content moderation efforts.