Families of the Uvalde school shooting victims filed a lawsuit against Meta, claiming Instagram permitted gun manufacturers to target minors with advertisements. The families cite specific posts from gunmaker Daniel Defense as examples of such marketing, including one featuring Santa Claus with an assault rifle. Meta's attorney contends the lawsuit lacks evidence that minors engaged with these posts and claims that the advertisements did not directly violate Instagram's policies. The families have also filed lawsuits against Daniel Defense and Activision.
Meta attorney Kristin Linsley argued that the families provided no proof that minors, including the Uvalde gunman, even read the Daniel Defense posts on Instagram.
Linsley said content advertising firearms for sale on Instagram is allowed if posted by 'brick-and-motor and online retailers,' but visibility of those posts is restricted for minors, under Meta's advertising policies.
In one ad posted on Instagram, the Georgia-based gunmaker Daniel Defense shows Santa Claus holding an assault rifle, which the lawsuit claims is marketed toward minors.
The lawsuit alleges that Instagram failed to enforce its own rules forbidding firearms advertisements aimed at minors.
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