UPDATE 2-Facebook to prohibit private firearm transactions on its service

(Adds details on policy, comment from gun control campaigner)
By Dustin Volz
WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Facebook Inc FB.O
prohibited global users from coordinating person-to-person
private sales of firearms on its online social network and its
Instagram photo-sharing service on Friday, countering concerns
that it was increasingly being used to circumvent background
checks on gun purchases.
The move comes as the United States debates the issue of
access to guns after a string of mass shootings. U.S. President
Barack Obama has urged social media companies to clamp down on
gun sales organized on their platforms.
It updates Facebook's regulated goods policy, introduced in
March 2014, that banned people from selling marijuana,
pharmaceuticals and illegal drugs.
Facebook already prohibited private firearms sellers from
advertising "no background check required," or offering
transactions across U.S. state lines without a licensed dealer
because the company said such posts indicated a willingness to
evade the law.
Licensed retailers will still be able to advertise firearms
on Facebook that lead to transactions outside of Facebook's
service, the spokeswoman said.
"Over the last two years, more and more people have been
using Facebook to discover products and to buy and sell things
to one another," Monika Bickert, Facebook's head of product
policy, said in a statement.
"We are continuing to develop, test, and launch new products
to make this experience even better for people and are updating
our regulated goods policies to reflect this evolution," Bickert
said.
Facebook is the world's most popular online social network,
with 1.59 billion users across the globe, 219 million of them in
the United States and Canada.
The National Rifle Association, a lobbying group opposed to
limits on U.S. gun ownership rights, did not immediately respond
to a request for comment.
Groups advocating increased gun control applauded the new
policy.
"Moms are grateful for the leadership shown by Facebook
today," said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for
Gun Sense in America, a part of the Everytown for Gun Safety
campaign group. "Our continued relationship with Facebook
resulted in today's even stronger stance, which will prevent
dangerous people from getting guns and save American lives."