Over 500 Brands Boycott Facebook Ads to Protest Hate Speech Policies
A growing coalition of more than 500 companies halts Facebook advertising to demand stronger action against hate speech. The unprecedented "Stop Hate for Profit" campaign directly targets the social network's massive annual ad revenue.
More than 500 companies officially launch an advertising boycott designed to pressure Facebook into taking a stronger stand against hate speech. Following weeks of protests against police violence and racial injustice, major brands unite for the first time to protest prevalent hate speech on Facebook’s platforms by targeting the social network’s $70 billion in annual ad revenue. The "Stop Hate for Profit" campaign describes this unprecedented month-long action as a "pause" rather than a permanent boycott.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg agrees to meet with the organizers of the boycott early next week as the movement gains significant momentum. Over 530 businesses formally sign on to the campaign, and this number does not even include major corporations like Target and Starbucks that pause their advertising independently without officially joining the organized effort.
Facebook vice president Nick Clegg attempts to reassure advertisers by stating that the company does not benefit from hate and highlights its massive investments in content moderation. He acknowledges that critics want Facebook to remove inflammatory rhetoric posted by President Trump, but he offers few concessions and defends the platform's hands-off approach by arguing that holding the powerful to account ultimately happens through the ballot box.