Meta & X Approved Violent Hate Speech Ads Before German Election, Study Finds

Key Findings: Social Media Giants Failed to Block Extremist Content

New research from corporate responsibility nonprofit Eko reveals that Meta (Facebook/Instagram) and X (formerly Twitter) approved ads containing violent anti-Muslim and antisemitic hate speech during Germany’s critical election period. The study tested the platforms’ ad review systems with extremist content, including:

• Calls for immigrants to be imprisoned in concentration camps
• AI-generated imagery of burning mosques and synagogues
• Dehumanizing language comparing Muslims to “viruses” and “vermin”
• Antisemitic conspiracy theories about Jewish economic control

Platform Approval Rates: A Breakdown

• X approved 100% of test ads (¹⁰⁄₁₀)
• Meta approved 50% (⁵⁄₁₀), rejecting others for “political sensitivity”

Approved Content Included:

• Calls for Muslim sterilization and violence
• Antisemitic tropes about “globalist Jewish agendas”
• False claims about political parties importing millions of refugees
• AI-generated imagery that violated Meta’s own disclosure policies

Election Interference Concerns

The ads were approved just days before Germany’s February 23 federal elections, where immigration has been a central debate topic. Notably:

• Elon Musk personally endorsed the far-right AfD party on X
• X hosted AfD leader Alice Weidel in a livestream
• Researchers disabled all approved ads before they could run

Regulatory Failures Under the Digital Services Act (DSA)

Eko’s findings suggest both platforms are violating EU regulations:

1. Content Moderation Breakdowns: Systems failed to detect blatant hate speech
2. Policy Enforcement Gaps: Approved content violated platforms’ own rules
3. Revenue from Hate: Platforms potentially profited from extremist ads

The European Commission has ongoing DSA investigations into both companies regarding:

• Election security risks
• Illegal content moderation
• Ad transparency violations

Potential penalties could reach 6% of global revenue for violations.

Civil Society Calls for Action

Eko has submitted its findings to EU regulators, joining other organizations documenting:

• Algorithmic bias favoring far-right content
• Restricted researcher access to election data
• Systemic failures in pre-election content moderation

“Our findings show Big Tech won’t clean up voluntarily,” an Eko spokesperson stated. “The EU must enforce the DSA strongly, especially during elections.”

Platform Responses

Meta claimed the ads violated policies and were never published, stating: “Our systems detected and disabled the advertiser’s Page.” X has not responded to requests for comment.

The Bigger Picture

This research highlights critical challenges in:

• Automated content moderation systems
• Election integrity protections
• Enforcement of digital regulations

With EU investigations ongoing, the case tests whether landmark legislation like the DSA can effectively regulate tech giants during democratic processes.

📚 Featured Products & Recommendations

Discover our carefully selected products that complement this article’s topics:

🛍️ Featured Product 1: Geekria QuickFit Replacement Ear Pads for Corsair Virtuoso RGB, Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE, Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT Headphones Ear Cushions, Headse…

Image: Premium product showcase

High-quality geekria quickfit replacement ear pads for corsair virtuoso rgb, virtuoso rgb wireless se, virtuoso rgb wireless xt headphones ear cushions, headse… offering outstanding features and dependable results for various applications.

Key Features:

• Cutting-edge technology integration
• Streamlined workflow optimization
• Heavy-duty construction for reliability
• Expert technical support available

🔗 View Product Details & Purchase

💡 Need Help Choosing? Contact our expert team for personalized product recommendations!