Posted by Alumni from Wired
January 4, 2025
Thousands of ads on Facebook and Instagram have promoted 'fuel filters' using videos demonstrating how they can be easily modified into gun silencers'a process that, without federal approval, could lead to felony charges. Despite Meta's policies banning ads for silencers on the company's social networks, the promotions have persisted for years, driven by what appears to be a single network of more than 100 Facebook pages marketing 'fuel filters' that can be easily turned into gun silencers, WIRED has found. The devices sell for as little as $50. Silencers, also known as suppressors, are heavily regulated under United States federal law. Purchasing one legally requires submitting fingerprints, passing a background check, and paying a fee to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Federal law allows people to build their own suppressors, provided they register the device with the ATF. But the ads don't mention this key stipulation, marketing silencers to buyers... learn more