Facebook blocks searches for Kenosha shooter name

Facebook is blocking searches for" Kyle Rittenhouse, the suspected gunman responsible for the murder of two protesters in Kenosha, Wis. on Tuesday soir. The behavior was first reported by Rolling Stone , but The Verge was able to confirm the blockage through direct testing. A name search returns no results, while a more general search returns a number of results with the fencer name included.

After Rittenhouse was identified and charged on Wednesday, Facebook deleted his profile and prevented users from creating new profiles under the name, over fears that the copying profiles could be used to spread disinformation. But blocking name searches is a more drastic step, especially at a time when interest in the details of the attack is at its height. The platform does not appear to block the posting or sharing of content, but it apparently limits its accessibility through the rresearch.

A search for the name did not return any resultsat.

A search on " Kenosha shooter "displays a variety of articles and posts that include Rittenhouse 's name.

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Achieved by The Verge, Facebook confirmed it was blocking Sear ches, but downplayed the significance of the measure. "This is not really new. , said a rep. "We block searches for a ton of things - for example, child exploitative content. "

In a Previous statement on the set, the platform stressed that it was taking proactive measures to limit harmful information following the incident. "We have designated this shooting as a mass murder and have removed the accounts of the shooter from Facebook and Instagram "said a representative of Facebook.

Rittenhouse has been at the center of a wave of controversy since he was identified on Wednesday by a flow of information gatheringopen source developments. Identification was confirmed when an arrest warrant for Rittenhouse was issued by a local police department .

A number of self-proclaimed militias, including the Kenosha Guard, were also banned in the aftermath of the shooting, having previously been deemed acceptable by Facebook moderators . Facebook says its internal investigation has produced no evidence linking Rittenhouse to custody of Kenosha.

Updated 4:07 PM ET: Updated with a Facebook comment.