Summary
Thousands of Facebook and Instagram ads have illegally marketed gun silencers disguised as “fuel filters,” violating U.S. federal law and Meta’s ad policies.
These devices, linked to a Chinese drop-shipping network, are sold for as little as $50 and promoted using recycled videos and stolen content.
Despite some ad removals, new campaigns quickly reappear, targeting niche audiences, including military personnel.
The ads have sparked legal, cybersecurity, and national security concerns, with critics citing Meta’s insufficient transparency and moderation tools.
The US statutes limiting suppressors are just plain stupid. FWIW, in many places in Europe, suppressors are MANDATORY. Yet these devices which reduce obnoxious and potentially dangerous noise are taxed and regulated heavily in the US for some reason. I can only think that the legislators who wrote these statutes are stupid and probably based their laws against suppressors on their hilariously inaccurate depiction in spy movies. Almost all suppressors reduce really really really fucking loud shooting to really loud shooting. They serve to eliminate some noise pollution. What’s not to like?
I think the idea of them being illegal is so that if you shoot someone you will be heard. That was always my understanding. If it’s silent you could shoot a bunch of people before anyone realizes making it more dangerous
I remember seeing people push these on Facebook in 2015 til I left in 2017. One of those people was making ghost guns in California and ended up being targeted by a big ATF raid, so it’s not like this hasn’t been a known content issue to the feds
Awesome, ill take a dozen
