The Washington Post stated that 40 well-known businesses and organisations were promoted on the Twitter accounts of white supremacists. The fraudulent Twitter accounts advertised goods from businesses like Amazon, Uber, Snap, and GoDaddy, as well as publications like USA Today and Morning Brew and even the US Department of Health and Human Services.
The advertising was hosted by the accounts of Andrew Anglin and Patrick Casey. Anglin is the editor of the neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer, and Casey formerly served as the head of the white nationalist group Identity Evropa (later rebranded as the American Identity Movement). In 2013 and 2019, respectively, both users had their Twitter accounts permanently terminated. Following Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, the CEO asked his followers if they wanted to see the platform provide banned accounts a "universal amnesty"; the poll's results revealed resounding support (over 70%). Shortly after, Anglin and Casey arrived back on the platform in full view.
According to the Washington Post, advertisements, as well as white supremacist messaging, could be found on pages with names like "White Power Ranger" and "No White Guilt Clips."
The US Department of Health and Human Services has decided to take down its Twitter advertisement, according to The Washington Post, because "having it display on abusive Twitter channels is incompatible with [its] views." In light of the fact that "this does not correspond with [its] beliefs or mission," USA Today said it will get in touch with Twitter.
Twitter's press department has been abolished, according to numerous reports. As of the time of writing, the adverts on Anglin and Casey's accounts had stopped showing. According to a former Twitter employee quoted by The Washington Post, pages on the social media network need to be reported to prevent adverts from appearing on them.
The report highlights issues that have developed as a result of Elon Musk's Twitter moderation techniques. Musk describes himself as an "absolutist of free speech." He made it plain in the months that followed his takeover of Twitter that he wanted restrictions on the service to be less stringent. He swiftly lifted the suspensions of Donald Trump and Babylon Bee's accounts after taking office. Brands worry that their advertisements might appear next to inappropriate content. Musk has, however made an effort to reassure them by asserting that, before purchasing the business, he had no goal of transforming Twitter into a "free-for-all hellscape."
For instance, a number of layoffs have completely destroyed the Twitter product trust and safety team. ( Twitter argues the opposite in a recent blog post, asserting that the staff "remains robust and well-resourced." Two sizable advertising agencies recommended that businesses halt their social media advertising as a result of the changes. It has been asserted that Twitter advertising from Apple and Amazon has been renewed.