Facebook’s heavy-handed censoring of gun-related content could soon be coming to an end, or at least dialed back, according to a media company headed up by Donald Trump, Jr. 

Field Ethos, which bills itself as “the premier lifestyle publication for the unapologetic man”, shared news of a meeting with top executives at Facebook’s parent company Meta that bodes well for the firearms industry. 

“Recently, we’ve had several promising direct conversations and in-person meetings with the top brass at META with regard to freedom of speech and the steps being taken to ensure that companies in the firearms and hunting related industries are able to communicate and exist unencumbered on the META platforms,” the company shared, adding their “concerns have been taken seriously.” 

“If you are a firearms/optics/ammo/hunting company and your account is de-platformed, feel free to reach out to us so we can assist in having your account reviewed and restored in a timely manner,” Field Ethos stated. 

The company also shared that when it comes to shadow-banning, “repairing algorithm censorship is in progress and we can all expect to see improvement in this area through Q1 and Q2 this year.” 

Interestingly, the company’s post was shared on X by Francis Brennan, who’s part of Meta’s D.C.-based communications office, which would seem to confirm Field Ethos’ information. 

“Our concerns have been taken seriously.”- @DonaldJTrumpJr‘s company @fieldethos after meeting with @Meta‘s “top brass” about “freedom of speech and the steps being taken to ensure that companies in the firearms and hunting related industries are able to communicate…” pic.twitter.com/QqpH7jmOKn

— Francis Brennan (@FrancisBrennan) February 4, 2025

Don Jr. also shared Field Ethos’ Instagram post with his 9 million Instagram followers, which was amplified by several U.S. gun makers and other companies in the firearms industry. 

What this means in practice remains to be seen. Facebook’s current policies only allow for “educational material promoting weapon safety, training, and licensing”, while “commerce content may not promote the buying, selling, or trading of weapons, ammunition and explosives.” According to the company, that means that advertising firearms and gun parts is forbidden, along with gun ranges, gun shows, and even “historical, antique, and collectible weapons.” 

Individual Meta users have also seen their accounts limited after posting gun-related content. McKenna Geer, who was on the 2024 Paralympic shooting sports team, was shadow-banned on Instagram after posting a picture of the air rifle she was using during the Paralympic Games in Paris. 

“I have always feared the day the media would censor my sport and speech just because I use firearms,” Ms. Geer posted on Instagram on July 17. “That day has finally come.” Meta initially blocked Ms. Geer’s ability to appeal the decision, and her account remains shadow-banned while her appeal is under review with only a month to go before the competition. Meantime, the tech company is shielded from civil lawsuits under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Ms. Geer isn’t the first athlete subjected to such treatment. Meta recently censored Team USA shotgun athlete Conner Prince. It also “unpublished” the Facebook page of the West Point Rifle Team at the U.S. Military Academy. According to the platform, it did so “because Army West Point Rifle goes against our Community Standards.”

Any move to relax the draconian rules regarding guns would be a welcome step in the right direction, but it’s clear that Meta’s policies aren’t just impacting for-profit companies within the firearms industry. Non-profits, athletes, firearm instructors, and individual gun owners have all felt Meta’s heavy hand over the years, and if the company is now relaxing its content moderation on issues like immigration, gender identity, and gender, it should do the same when it comes to folks responsibly exercising their Second Amendment rights.