YouTube has updated its firearm-related content policies under pressure from anti-gun groups, effective June 18, 2024.
The new rules restrict videos demonstrating removal of safety devices or using certain firearm accessories. Gun Owners of America detailed the lead-up to this decision and its impact.
YouTube now bans instructions on removing safety devices and ages restricts videos on homemade firearms, high-capacity magazines, and accessories like bump stocks.
Anti-gun groups, like Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety, influenced this change citing concerns about instructional firearm videos and their alleged association with mass shootings.
In April 2024, Media Matters for America raised concerns about YouTube’s lack of effective moderation on firearm-related content. They criticized the platform for allowing videos containing links to purchase guns and demonstrating techniques for achieving automatic fire with accessories like bump stocks.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg added pressure by sending a letter to Google’s CEO, urging discussions on YouTube’s firearm policies and potential repercussions if their content moderation measures were insufficient.
In May 2023, Everytown and the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) issued a report alleging that YouTube’s recommendation algorithm guided teenagers from gaming content to firearm videos, hinting at a connection between the algorithm and real-world violence.
Despite recognizing no direct link between video games and violence, the report cited channels like Granthum and Print Shoot Repeat as concerning examples.
Concurrently, the Giffords Law Center, another anti-gun organization, filed a lawsuit on behalf of Buffalo shooting victims against YouTube and other social media platforms.
The lawsuit argued that YouTube’s algorithm influenced the shooter’s radicalization, seeking to bypass Section 230 protections shielding tech firms from content liability.
Gun Owners of America (GOA) is collaborating with Congress to challenge YouTube’s restrictive policies targeting Second Amendment creators, advocating for platform representatives to testify before the House Judiciary Committee or Subcommittee on Government Weaponization.
The new rules impose age restrictions or removal on videos showcasing firearm modifications or high-capacity magazines, sparking worries among creators about the impact on free speech and firearms education.
GOA calls for gun rights supporters to engage with Congressional representatives to protect free speech and prevent platforms from yielding to pressures that violate constitutional rights.
