U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has called out Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg over allegations that the platform is unfairly censoring content related to shooting sports and its athletes.
According to reports, Meta has shadow-banned and de-platformed several athletes from USA Shooting, including four-time Olympic gold medalist Vincent Hancock and Paralympian McKenna Geer.
The West Point Rifle Team has also reportedly faced similar censorship. Blackburn argues that this pattern of behavior reflects an unacceptable bias against the Second Amendment and freedom of expression.
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Shooting Sports Athletes Allegedly Targeted by Meta
“Meta has reportedly censored prominent athletes in shooting sports, including Olympian Vincent Hancock and Paralympian McKenna Geer,” Blackburn wrote. Hancock, a U.S. Army veteran, recently won his fourth Olympic gold medal in skeet shooting, cementing his status as a dominant figure in the sport. However, despite his remarkable achievements, Hancock’s accounts have been restricted by Meta moderators, who Blackburn claims are punishing the athlete unfairly.
In July, Paralympian McKenna Geer encountered similar censorship from Meta. Born with a muscular disorder, Geer has overcome significant challenges to reach the top levels of competitive shooting, representing the U.S. in air rifle at the Paralympic Games.
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Yet, when she posted a photo of the rifle she used in competition, Meta flagged it as a violation of its guidelines, citing concerns over promoting a “safe environment.” The platform reportedly shadow-banned her content, and Geer found the appeal process to be nonfunctional.
Blackburn contends that Meta’s actions go beyond these individual cases. Other shooting athletes and even the West Point Rifle Team have faced similar restrictions, suggesting that Meta’s moderation is disproportionately targeting shooting sports.
Blackburn argues that this discrimination stems solely from the athletes’ use of firearms, despite the fact that many promote responsible gun ownership and safety. According to Blackburn, Meta’s actions are an attempt to “virtue signal” at the expense of free speech and the rights of these athletes.
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