Facebook Admits It Made ‘Mistake’ Rejecting Pro-Gun Political Ad

July 25th, 2018 2:08 PM

Facebook admitted it made a “mistake” when it rejected the pro-gun advertisement posted by a Republican running for agricultural commissioner in Florida.

State Rep. Matt Caldwell’s 15-second advertisement features him skeet shooting and saying, “I like guns. I love the Second Amendment. And I support our president. That’s why I’m endorsed by the NRA.”

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Caldwell’s campaign claimed his advertisement was censored by Facebook because of the site’s “liberal agenda.” Facebook’s advertising policies prohibit advertisements that “promote the sale or use of weapons, ammunition, or explosives.”

In a press release, Caldwell’s campaign included a screenshot with Facebook’s reason for not approving the ad: “Your ad can't promote the sale of weapons or ammunition.”

A Facebook spokesperson later told the Times, “We review millions of ads each week and sometimes we make mistakes. We have overturned the incorrect decision and the ads are now running live on Facebook.”