Probe shows Facebook pushed antisemitic QAnon ads to users’ feeds 2.4m times
Social media giant which banned Holocaust denial and distortion this week has been criticised for allowing conspiracy theories and extremism to fester on the platform
Facebook pushed adverts linked to the antisemitic QAnon conspiracy theory into users’ feeds as many as 2.4 million times this year, an investigation has shown.
The social media giant, which this week said it was banning Holocaust denial from its sites, has been criticised for facilitating conspiracies which push the narrative that Jews are among a secretive cabal controlling the world and abusing children.
This week’s revelations, as published in the Telegraph, accuse the company of “profiting from [QAnon] and helping it grow even as [its own] employees investigated its potential for violence”.
Facebook said it removed a network of fake accounts pushing the QAnon narrative back in April, and finally banned all such pages and Instagram accounts from its services last week.
However, between removing the network and imposing the ban, Facebook’s own online advertising archive shows that it approved at least 204 adverts spreading the precepts or using the hashtags, symbols or slogans of the movement.
This was described as “a key incubator of coronavirus denialism, as well as violent attacks and plots”, with the adverts – including for QAnon-linked merchandise – seen as many as 2.4 million times.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
