IBM has halted its advertising on X following a report that revealed the placement of the tech company's ads alongside antisemitic content on the platform previously known as Twitter.
An IBM spokesperson conveyed to CNBC, "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."
Media Matters for America released a report on Wednesday, stating that the media watchdog group had recently identified ads for Apple, Oracle, Bravo, Xfinity, and IBM alongside posts promoting Hitler and the Nazi Party on X.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino has been working to regain advertisers who paused their campaigns after Elon Musk acquired the company last year. Despite claims by researchers and advocacy groups documenting an increase in controversial content on X, the company has contested these allegations.
Image source: Economic Times
IBM's choice to suspend advertising on X is additionally influenced by Musk's actions on Wednesday, where he not only amplified and highlighted an antisemitic post on X but also made statements that faced criticism. In a particular post, Musk took aim at the Anti-Defamation League, accusing the nonprofit of unfairly targeting the majority of the West, despite expressing support for the Jewish people and Israel.
On Thursday, Yaccarino expressed her perspective on X, emphasizing the company's unequivocal stance that discrimination by anyone should cease universally—a sentiment she believes everyone can and should endorse.
Regarding the platform itself, Yaccarino underscored X's explicit commitment to combating antisemitism and discrimination, stating, "There's no place for it anywhere in the world—it's ugly and wrong, Full stop”. In response to Musk's recent provocative remarks, a coalition of 163 Jewish leaders issued a statement on Thursday under the banner X Out Hate, renewing their plea for major companies like Disney, Apple, and Amazon to refrain from funding X through their advertising expenditures.
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