Key Takeaways
- A federal court permanently blocked New York from requiring concealed carry permit applicants to submit social media information.
- The state agreed to an injunction preventing enforcement of this requirement under New York Penal Law § 400.00.
- State officials must stop enforcing the social media disclosure requirement and revise the PPB-3 license application form.
- This ruling indicates a shift in New York’s approach to concealed carry applications, ensuring that privacy rights are respected.
- The decision aligns with the Second Amendment, emphasizing that constitutional rights shouldn’t depend on invasive personal information requests.
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
SYRACUSE, NY – A federal court has moved to permanently block New York from requiring concealed carry permit applicants to submit their social media information.
According to court documents filed in the Northern District of New York, the state agreed to a permanent injunction preventing enforcement of the social media disclosure requirement under New York Penal Law § 400.00(1)(o)(iv). The order applies to the case brought by plaintiffs including Lawrence Sloane.
🚨HUGE 2A UPDATE🚨
In our case, New York agreed to a PERMANENT injunction blocking its social media requirement for concealed carry permits.
Once entered, the state can’t demand your social media—and it will be removed from the application. pic.twitter.com/NNdYzvXTUc
— Gun Owners Foundation (@GunFoundation) March 18, 2026
The injunction directs state officials to stop enforcing the requirement and to ensure that the PPB-3 license application form no longer includes language demanding social media information from applicants.
This development stems from a broader legal challenge to New York’s concealed carry licensing laws. As part of the agreement, the state will no longer be able to require applicants to provide access to their social media accounts as part of the permitting process.
More from USA Carry:
The ruling represents a significant shift in how New York handles concealed carry applications. Once the injunction is entered, the state cannot reinstate or enforce the social media disclosure requirement covered by the order.
Requiring individuals to turn over personal social media information raised serious concerns about privacy and constitutional rights. Lawful gun owners seeking to exercise their rights should not be subject to broad personal scrutiny unrelated to their eligibility.
The Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to keep and bear arms. Measures that place unnecessary barriers on that right, including intrusive application requirements, face increasing legal challenges. This decision reinforces that constitutional rights should not be conditioned on surrendering personal information beyond what is necessary under the law.