IBM has suspended advertising on X after reports revealed its ads were appearing next to posts praising Adolf Hitler and Nazism.
The company said it was “completely unacceptable” for its content to be associated with such threads on the platform.
X said it doesn’t intentionally place brands next to this type of content.
Read More: X Rumored To Be Trying Sell Off Disused Twitter User Handles For $50,000
This follows backlash at X owner Elon Musk for calling an antisemitic conspiracy theory as the “actual truth” when replying to a post on X.
Left-leaning watchdog Media Matters for America identified ads from IBM and other companies next to posts that included Hitler quotes, Nazi praise, and Holocaust denial.
IBM announced its zero tolerance for hate speech and discrimination.
The company said it has immediately suspended all advertising on X while investigating the situation.Â
Read More: X Values At $19 Billion In Stock Grants To Employees
X added ads are not deliberately placed next to extremist content, and accounts promoting Nazi ideologies wouldn’t earn advertising revenue.
The platform also mentioned that it would label specific posts as “sensitive media.”
Other companies listed alongside IBM are Apple, Oracle, Bravo, and Xfinity.
Elon Musk’s controversial tweet got significant attention.
Looking to boost your online brand? Create your FREE business profile at WhatBiz? here.
The tweet accused Jewish communities of pushing “hatred against whites” and included anti-immigrant sentiments.
Media Matters argued Musk’s tweet amounted to an endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory known as “white genocide.”
It suggests that Jewish people systematically encourage the immigration of “non-white” people to Western countries to bring about demographic change.
The Anti-Defamation League criticized him for using his influence to validate and promote antisemitic theories, especially during a time when antisemitism was on the rise.
Need Career Advice? Get employment skills advice at all levels of your career
Musk denied antisemitism and later clarified that his comments referred to specific groups, not all Jewish people.
This incident is part of a larger discussion around content moderation on X, where Musk has faced criticism for his handling of hate speech and extremist content.Â
The platform claims robust brand safety controls and a commitment to combat antisemitism and discrimination.
Despite this, external groups have contested the effectiveness of the platform’s safety measures.
