IBM Halts Advertising on X After Placement Next to Nazi Content

IBM has temporarily stopped advertising on X (formerly known as Twitter) after it was revealed that their ads were being placed next to posts praising Adolf Hitler and Nazism. The company expressed its strong disapproval of its content being associated with such threads on the platform. X responded by stating that it doesn't intentionally place brands next to this kind of content. This incident occurred as X's owner, Elon Musk, faced criticism for endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory on the platform. Media Matters for America, a left-leaning watchdog, found that IBM and other companies had their ads placed alongside posts containing Hitler quotes, Holocaust denial, and praise of Nazis. X stated that one pro-Nazi post was seen about 8,000 times alongside an IBM ad. Other companies listed in this context include Apple, Oracle, Bravo, and Xfinity. IBM promptly suspended their advertising on X and launched an investigation into the matter, stating that they have zero tolerance for hate speech and discrimination. X assured the BBC that ads are not intentionally placed next to extremist content and that Nazi-promoting accounts would not make money from advertising. The platform also pledged to label specific posts as "sensitive media." Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino emphasized X's commitment to fighting antisemitism and discrimination, stating that there is no place for such behavior anywhere in the world. Meanwhile, Elon Musk faced backlash for endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory on the platform, in which he claimed that Jewish communities are promoting hatred against whites and encouraging non-white immigration. Media Matters argued that Musk's tweet amounted to an endorsement of the "white genocide" conspiracy theory. Musk denies being antisemitic and clarified that his comments were directed at groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The controversy led to the ADL Chief Executive highlighting the danger of promoting antisemitic theories, especially given the rise of antisemitism globally. Musk has been known to repeat conspiracy theories, criticize social media watchdogs, and blame pressure groups for a decline in advertising revenue on X since his takeover. While he threatened to sue the ADL earlier this year, he canceled his scheduled appearance at a summit and cited a schedule change as the reason.