IBM (IBM.N) announced on Thursday that it has immediately halted all advertising on X, which Elon Musk owns, after an investigation discovered that its advertisements were put next to content glorifying Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
The article was published a day after Musk provided his support for an antisemitic post that was published on X. The post made a false allegation that members of the Jewish community were inciting hatred against white people.
Media Matters, an organization that monitors the media, stated that it discovered that advertisements for corporations such as IBM, Apple (AAPL.O), Oracle (ORCL.N), and Comcast’s (CMCSA.O) Xfinity were displayed with information that was offensive to Jews.
“IBM has zero tolerance for hate speech and discrimination, and we have immediately suspended all advertising on X while we investigate this entirely unacceptable situation,” according to a statement issued by IBM.
Requests for comments were made to Apple, Oracle, and Xfinity, but none immediately responded. Company X stated that its system did not knowingly display brands “actively next to this kind of content” and that the content that Media Matters mentioned will no longer be able to generate money off of its posts.
It is not the first time that Musk has participated in conversations on the social media site that include references to antisemitic stereotypes or conspiracy theories; he made such statements on Wednesday. X did not wish to respond and instead directed readers to a report that CEO Linda Yaccarino released on Thursday.
“When it comes to this platform, X has also been incredibly open about our efforts to eradicate antisemitism and other forms of bigotry. It is a revolting practice that has no place since it is unethical. “Full stop,” Yaccarino said.
Musk criticized the Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit group that works to combat antisemitism, on Wednesday after another user questioned him about targeting all Jews. Musk has blamed the Anti-Defamation League in the past without providing any evidence that it is responsible for the decrease in advertising on X.
In response, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, stated on X that “at a time when antisemitism is exploding in America and surging around the world, it is indisputable that it is dangerous to use one’s influence to validate and promote anti-Jewish theories.”
Advertisers have left the site since Musk purchased it and lowered content control, which human rights organizations say has resulted in a significant surge in hate speech on X.
According to data provided to Reuters by a third party, monthly U.S. ad income at X has decreased by at least 55% yearly since Musk bought the company in October 2022, according to a story that Reuters published in October.
Musk is also the Chief Executive Officer of the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla (TSLA.O), which has been the target of many lawsuits alleging widespread racial or sexual harassment of employees.
In recent years, antisemitism has become more prevalent not only in the United States but also across the world. According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the number of antisemitic events in the United States increased by about 400% compared to the same period a year earlier after the commencement of war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas, which attacked Israel on October 7.
Comment Template