Disney, Microsoft ads on Twitter show up next to neo-Nazi propaganda: report
Neo-Nazi propaganda continues to thrive on Twitter, alongside advertisements from major companies, as advertisers slowly return to the platform under the leadership of Elon Musk, according to a report. Civil rights attorney and Harvard Law School clinical instructor Alejandra Caraballo has observed an increase in ads since Musk appointed NBCUniversal’s advertising superstar Linda Yaccarino as Twitter’s head last month. However, Caraballo noted that ads from mainstream firms such as Disney and Microsoft were appearing next to neo-Nazi propaganda. These ads were found adjacent to tweets from an anti-Black Lives Matter organization that Caraballo follows for research purposes. Caraballo reported that while no ads appeared on the organization’s actual profile, they were visible on tweets that the organization had retweeted. One of these retweeted posts included content from the 2017 propaganda film “Europa: The Last Battle,” which promotes antisemitic themes, blaming Jewish people for both world wars and the creation of Israel.
Caraballo discovered that the film, which violates Twitter’s “hateful conduct” rules, was being uploaded to the platform and searched for it on Twitter. She was shocked to find that alongside posts related to the film, ads from companies like Adobe, Microsoft, and Disney were also displayed. Screenshots uploaded by Caraballo demonstrated that an Adobe ad for its “Changemakers Series” addressing mental health issues appeared above a clip from “Europa: The Last Battle” shared by a verified user. This discovery raises concerns about Twitter’s moderation and the presence of extremist content alongside advertisements from reputable brands.
Caraballo further tested Twitter’s moderation by searching for racial slurs and antisemitic terms, finding that some terms were stripped of ads through moderation, while others, such as homophobic content, still displayed ads. This indicates inconsistencies in Twitter’s content moderation practices.
Although major advertising firms reportedly resumed their marketing spend on Twitter, Yaccarino did not address any pauses in ad spending during her first investor call as Twitter CEO. Well-known brands like Warner Bros, Mondelez, McDonald’s, and Walmart have recommenced advertising on the platform. Yaccarino told investors that ad spending in several categories, including health, consumer packaged goods, and financial services, has increased by at least 40% year-over-year. However, Caraballo finds it deeply concerning that advertisers are supporting and funding extremist content on Twitter by resuming their campaigns.
Although advertisers may perceive the platform as less chaotic under Yaccarino, Caraballo warns that Musk’s moderation-related policy changes and the enforcement team behind them have remained unchanged despite the transfer of CEO powers.
FAQs:
Q: What is the report about?
A: The report discusses how neo-Nazi propaganda coexists with advertisements from major brands on Twitter, as advertisers gradually return to the platform under Elon Musk’s leadership.
Q: Who is Alejandra Caraballo?
A: Alejandra Caraballo is a civil rights attorney and Harvard Law School clinical instructor mentioned in the report. She discovered the presence of advertisements alongside extremist content on Twitter.
Q: What is “Europa: The Last Battle”?
A: “Europa: The Last Battle” is a 2017 propaganda film that promotes antisemitic themes. It blames Jewish people for both world wars and the creation of Israel.
Q: Did Twitter’s moderation remove the ads displayed next to extremist content?
A: After Caraballo shared her findings, Twitter appeared to remove the ads from the specific search. However, the same results were still visible when she altered her search terms. This indicates that Twitter’s moderation may not fully address the issue.
Q: Have major advertising firms resumed their campaigns on Twitter?
A: Yes, the report mentions that well-known brands such as Warner Bros, Mondelez, McDonald’s, and Walmart have recommenced advertising on the platform.
Q: What concerns does Caraballo have about advertisers returning to Twitter?
A: Caraballo finds it deeply concerning that advertisers are supporting and funding extremist content by resuming their campaigns on Twitter. She believes this poses significant risks.
Report: Disney and Microsoft advertisements appear alongside neo-Nazi propaganda on Twitter
Neo-Nazi propaganda continues to proliferate on Twitter, alongside ads from major companies that have slowly started returning to Elon Musk’s social media platform, according to a report. Alejandra Caraballo, a civil rights attorney and Harvard Law School clinical instructor, has witnessed an increase in ads since Musk appointed NBCUniversal’s advertising expert Linda Yaccarino to lead Twitter last month. However, Caraballo found that ads from mainstream firms like Disney and Microsoft were appearing alongside neo-Nazi propaganda.
Caraballo discovered this when researching an anti-Black Lives Matter organization called White Lives Matter California. She noted that ads did not appear on the organization’s actual profile, but were seen above posts mentioning the group. Curiously, White Lives Matter California had retweeted segments of the film “Europa: The Last Battle,” a 2017 propaganda film associated with anti-Semitic themes. The film, which lasts 12 hours and violates Twitter’s “hateful conduct” rules, accuses Jewish people of causing both world wars and orchestrating the creation of Israel.
Caraballo’s research revealed that ads for companies like Adobe, HarperCollins, Microsoft, and Disney were appearing alongside anti-Semitic tweets related to the film. She shared screenshots showing ads from Adobe’s “Changemakers Series” addressing mental health issues placed above a clip from “Europa: The Last Battle.” It is important to note that Twitter’s ad revenue reportedly dipped 59% from the same period in 2021 between April 1 and May, as advertisers expressed concerns about the platform’s stability under Musk’s leadership.
Additionally, Caraballo highlighted how Twitter’s verification feature, once reserved for well-known figures or brands, is now available to any user or organization for a fee. This change allows imposters to be distinguished from legitimate profiles. Caraballo found that even after she flagged the ads appearing alongside extremist content, Twitter seemed to have removed them only from the specific search query. Similar results were observed when Caraballo searched racial slurs and anti-Semitic terms. The platform seemed to moderate ads accompanying then, but allowed hateful content related to LGBTQ issues to appear alongside ads.
Caraballo expressed concern that major advertisers resuming their campaigns on Twitter directly support and fund extremist content. While some may believe the platform is less chaotic under Yaccarino’s leadership, Caraballo warned that Musk’s moderation policies and the enforcement team have not changed since he took over as CEO. It remains to be seen how Twitter will address the issue of ads appearing next to extremist material and ensure a safer environment for users.