Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Visual Stories
  • Reviews
  • Phone Reviews
  • Fitness Bands Reviews
  • Speakers Reviews
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
In the news
Samsung
Elon Musk
Apple
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Technology
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Visual Stories
Reviews
Phone Reviews
Fitness Bands Reviews
Speakers Reviews
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / Technology News / People are using Snapchat/Instagram to sell illegal guns: Here's how
Technology

People are using Snapchat/Instagram to sell illegal guns: Here's how

People are using Snapchat/Instagram to sell illegal guns: Here's how
Written by Shubham Sharma
Aug 25, 2019, 10:43 am 2 min read
People are using Snapchat/Instagram to sell illegal guns: Here's how

Weapons' trafficking has been going on for a long time, both in India and abroad. The practice is pretty concerning, but now, it's becoming even more dangerous owing to the shady techniques of weapon dealers. They have evolved their ways of connecting with potential customers and are using benign platforms like Snapchat to sell illegal guns. Here's all about this.

Snapchat
Selling guns through Snapchat accounts

Just recently, a report from The Guardian revealed several instances of illegal weapons trading through social media. In one case, a man going by the name Anthony Reed was found using Snapchat, which people normally use to share photos/stories, to advertise illegal guns for months. He kept sharing photos, videos promoting and brandishing various illegal weapons, including handguns, through his Snapchat accounts.

Action
Reed and his partners were caught by ATF agent

Reed and his aides selling illegal guns through Snapchat were brought in by an agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. He spotted the posts on the platform and conducted an undercover investigation over a period of 11 months to understand the scale of his online operation. In all, court documents say they sold over 100 firearms.

Information
Reed's customers included felons, murderers

Notably, Reed sold the illegal weapons to felons prohibiting from having a gun as well as to people who used them for murder, assaults, and armed robberies. Many guns weren't even tracked down.

Previous incidents
And, this is not the only case

While Reed's case is scary, authorities say that there have been many similar instances in the past. Last year itself, a 31-year-old man and 17-year-old teenager were arrested for smuggling illegal guns through Snapchat. These were separate cases, but in both the incidents, the perpetrators used anonymous Snapchat accounts to attract buyers for the weapons.

Other platforms
Other platforms have also been utilized similarly

Along with Snapchat, gun traffickers have also created covert accounts on Facebook and Instagram to market illegal weapons. Now, officially, all these companies have a firm stance against illegal promotion and advertising/selling of weapons, but these cases clearly indicate that something somewhere is going wrong. This should be addressed as soon as possible, especially considering the rise in the number of public shootings.

Share this timeline
Facebook
Whatsapp
Twitter
Linkedin
Shubham Sharma
Shubham Sharma
Twitter
Editor with over five years of experience in covering all things science, consumer tech, space tech, AI, infosec, and business. A commerce graduate from University of Lucknow. I have been handling Tech beat at NewsBytes since 2018.
Latest
India
Snapchat
The Guardian
Latest
5 films that deal with postpartum depression
5 films that deal with postpartum depression Entertainment
French Open, Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic: Rivalry in numbers
French Open, Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic: Rivalry in numbers Sports
Statistical comparison of 'Big Titles' between Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal
Statistical comparison of 'Big Titles' between Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal Sports
Vivo S15 Pro announced with MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC
Vivo S15 Pro announced with MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC Technology
Top 5 upcoming DC shows to look out for
Top 5 upcoming DC shows to look out for Entertainment
India
COVID-19: India reports 2,364 fresh cases, 10 more deaths
COVID-19: India reports 2,364 fresh cases, 10 more deaths India
Centre eases ban on wheat export: Here are more details
Centre eases ban on wheat export: Here are more details Business
Global wheat prices surge by 6% after India's export ban
Global wheat prices surge by 6% after India's export ban Business
In surprise move, Chinese media defends India's wheat export ban
In surprise move, Chinese media defends India's wheat export ban World
COVID-19: India logs 2,202 new cases; 27 more deaths
COVID-19: India logs 2,202 new cases; 27 more deaths India
More News
Snapchat
Snap inks deal with Sony Music, launches AR Music Lenses
Snap inks deal with Sony Music, launches AR Music Lenses Technology
NewsBytes Briefing: Clubhouse officially comes to Android, and more
NewsBytes Briefing: Clubhouse officially comes to Android, and more Technology
Snap challenges Instagram with host of updates for Creators, Businesses
Snap challenges Instagram with host of updates for Creators, Businesses Technology
NewsBytes Briefing: Germans are making a flying Tesla, and more
NewsBytes Briefing: Germans are making a flying Tesla, and more Technology
Snap Inc. claims to have achieved carbon neutrality
Snap Inc. claims to have achieved carbon neutrality Business
More News
The Guardian
Death of 16-month-old, abused by adoptive parents, angers South Korea
Death of 16-month-old, abused by adoptive parents, angers South Korea World
UK to Japan: These countries have reported new coronavirus strain
UK to Japan: These countries have reported new coronavirus strain World
Indian experts to meet over new coronavirus strain in UK
Indian experts to meet over new coronavirus strain in UK India
Italy: Students protest over school closures due to COVID-19
Italy: Students protest over school closures due to COVID-19 World
Trump fires official who rejected conspiracy theories about election fraud
Trump fires official who rejected conspiracy theories about election fraud World
More News
Next News Article
Next News Article

Love Technology news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

Science Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Technology News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Mukesh Ambani Indian Premier League (IPL) Karnataka Samsung Xiaomi West Bengal
Bihar Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Haryana Narendra Modi Arvind Kejriwal Tamil Nadu Gujarat Yogi Adityanath YouTube
Instagram Hollywood News Uttar Pradesh Kerala Netflix Bollywood News Mamata Banerjee Maruti Suzuki Rahul Gandhi Elon Musk
Shah Rukh Khan Chelsea FC OPPO Akhilesh Yadav Indian Cricket Team Apple Manchester United Salman Khan Cryptocurrency OnePlus
Amitabh Bachchan ICC Women's World Cup Vivo India vs Sri Lanka
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive IPL 2022 Schedule IPL 2022 Points Table Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2022