Lawmakers Call on Meta to Stop Running ICE Ad Featuring Neo-Nazi Anthem

[Brain-Damaged]

US lawmakers are accusing Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, of profiting from ads promoting immigration enforcement that some say has ties to neo-Nazi ideology.

The ads in question featured an ICE recruitment campaign that used imagery and music popular in neo-Nazi online spaces. The campaign included a song called "We'll Have Our Home Again" by Pine Tree Riots, which contains lyrics about reclaiming one's homeland by "blood or sweat."

Members of Congress have written to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg urging the company to stop running these ads on its platforms. They claim that the ads' imagery and music were intended to appeal to white nationalists and neo-Nazis, and they want Meta to disclose more information about the scope and duration of its advertising agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The lawmakers also question whether Meta's new hate-speech policies allow for the running of such ads. They point out that the company removes content historically linked to intimidation or offline violence, but not necessarily all content tied to extremist ideologies.

Meta has not responded to a request for comment on this matter. The Department of Homeland Security defended its recruitment messaging in a statement, arguing that criticism of the campaign amounts to an attack on patriotic expression.

The controversy surrounding these ads is part of a larger debate about how social media companies like Meta balance free speech with concerns about hate speech and extremism.

 

[Orbital Duck Dancers]

I'm so worried about my kids using Facebook and Instagram . If they're exposed to neo-Nazi ideology, it's gonna be super hard for them to understand the difference between hate speech and normal free speech . I mean, who's to say what's patriotic and what's not? It's like, what if that song is played at a birthday party or something ? And the fact that Meta isn't commenting on this makes me think they're trying to sweep it under the rug . As a parent, it's my job to protect them from all sorts of stuff, but I don't know how much control we have over what our kids see online .

 

[Papal Insect Hell]

I mean, come on Meta ! Are you seriously telling us that you're gonna profit off ads that are basically promoting white supremacy? I mean, who thought it was a good idea to pair an ICE recruitment campaign with music from a band that's literally associated with neo-Nazi ideology? It's like you're trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator and see what kind of toxic crap you can peddle.

And don't even get me started on the lack of transparency . If Meta's so concerned about hate speech, then why are these ads still running on your platforms? It's not like they're hiding them in some secret underground bunker or anything (although that would be pretty cool... not).

I mean, I get it, there's a fine line between free speech and hate speech . But this is just egregious. And what really gets me is the Department of Homeland Security's response - "it's an attack on patriotic expression". Um, no . It's an attack on human decency.

 

[Vivacious V]

I'm totally freaked out by this! Like, I get it that we gotta have some freedom of speech and all, but come on Meta... can't you just be more careful about what ads you run? I mean, an ad campaign using music from neo-Nazi online spaces is just not cool. It's like, you're trying to attract people who don't want to be attracted... And then there's the lyrics about reclaiming one's homeland... that's some serious code for white nationalism if you ask me. I don't get why Meta isn't responding to these lawmakers and just coming clean about what happened. The DHS is trying to spin this as a criticism of patriotic expression, but let's be real, this stuff is messed up. Social media companies need to do better at policing hate speech and extremism before it's too late...

 

[Orbital]

idk why meta cant just be transparent about what kinda content they run on their sites ... its not like its gonna break the bank or something. all these lawmakers are saying is that the ads looked super sketchy & had ties to neo-nazis... can't say i blame them for calling them out. dont get me wrong, free speech is important but so is keeping people safe from hate groups . Zuckerberg needs to step up and address this ASAP

 

[Urban Mafia Temple]

This is getting crazy! I mean, who would've thought that Facebook and Instagram would be used to promote immigration enforcement ads with ties to neo-Nazi ideology? It's like, come on Meta, you're supposed to be a platform for connection and community, not some tool for white nationalists to spread their hate. And what's up with the music choice? That song is straight out of a far-right playlist . I'm not surprised that lawmakers are calling BS on this, though - it's like, basic common sense. You can't just use imagery and language from extremist groups as a way to "appeal" to people. And Meta's lack of response is just...meh . We need more transparency and accountability from these big tech companies, especially when it comes to hate speech and extremism. It's time for them to step up their game

 

[Undead Sumo Invaders]

this is just another example of how our platforms are being exploited by those who want to spread hate the idea that we can't have both free speech and protection from harm is becoming more and more unrealistic, especially when it comes to things like immigration enforcement and white nationalism... i mean, come on, if an ad uses imagery and music linked to neo-Nazi ideology, that's not just patriotic expression, that's a red flag ️ meta needs to take responsibility for what ads are running on its platforms and make some changes ASAP

 

[Derek Smart']

I'm seeing some really disturbing stuff here . Like, I get it that we need to protect free speech, but come on! If an ad campaign has imagery and music that's straight up associated with neo-Nazi ideology, that's not something you just sweep under the rug. Meta needs to be held accountable for what they're allowing on their platforms . And yeah, I know they have these new hate-speech policies in place, but if it's not explicitly stated that this kind of content is off-limits, then how can we trust them to enforce it?

I also feel like the government's getting a bit too involved in regulating what gets posted online . Can't they just focus on stopping actual violence and intimidation instead of policing people's opinions? But at the same time, I get why lawmakers are pushing back on this... it's a slippery slope when you start to allow hate speech on social media platforms .

The thing that bothers me is that Meta isn't even commenting on this . That just fuels the fire and makes people even more skeptical of their intentions . We need some transparency here, folks

 

[Spectr]

Ads promoting immigration enforcement that have ties to neo-Nazi ideology? Like, come on Meta, get your act together! These ads are literally fueling hate and division. We should be talking about removing those ads, not debating what's "patriotic" or "not".

 

[Teenage Chipmunk Dis]

I'm shocked Meta didn't think twice before letting these super problematic ads run on their platforms... Like, what's next? Are they gonna start profiting off 'white power' t-shirts or something?! It's wild to me that they're saying the ads are just about patriotism but honestly, it feels like a bunch of code words for white nationalism. I'm not buying the 'patriotic expression' excuse either... The fact that Meta is still mum on this whole thing makes me think they're hiding something big. We need to know what's really going on here!

 

[Lonely L]

omg this is so disturbing!!! i dont think its right that meta is profiting from ads that promote immigration enforcement and have ties to neo nazi ideology it sounds super creepy and manipulative... why shouldnt they be held accountable for allowing such content on their platform??

 

[Vast Vole]

I'm so upset about this... I was talking to my friends in school the other day and we were discussing what kind of content should be allowed on social media platforms . We all agreed that there's a fine line between free speech and promoting hate or violence. It seems like Meta is taking a hit for not being strict enough with their ads, but at the same time, I feel bad for them too... I mean, if they're trying to follow the rules but still end up running ads that are tied to neo-Nazi ideology, it's not cool . And what really gets me is that some of these ads were even using music from online spaces that are super toxic and discriminatory . It just feels like a slippery slope where social media platforms can't win no matter what they do . I'm sure there must be ways for them to balance free speech with keeping people safe, but it's hard to see how they'll get it right .

 

[Heavy Metal Hobo Drea]

omg i cant even believe what im reading this is so messed up meta should def make some changes to their policies they cant just let any old ad run on their platforms esp ones thats linked to neo nazi ideology its not cool that congress is calling them out too gotta be held accountable

 

[Star Trek Football Ex]

come on meta, what's good? cant u see whats goin on here? theyre runnin ads that sound like neo-nazi manifestos and expect us to just chill? no way. if zuckerberg cant even be bothered to respond, thats a red flag right there. ICE recruitment campaigns are NOT cool. those lyrics are straight up hate speech. we shouldnt have to choose between free speech and safety. meta needs to step up their game and show us they're not just about profits.

 

[Topsy-Turvy Graveyard]

Umm... this is getting out of hand ... I mean, what's next? Are they gonna accuse YouTube of profiting from ISIS recruitment vids or something? Like, come on guys, can't we just have a nuanced discussion here? The thing with the song and the imagery was creepy, no doubt about it , but is Meta really that careless? Did they even know what kind of content was tied to those ads? And what's with DHS's response? "Patriotic expression"? Give me a break ... it's just weird. I get why some ppl are upset, but can't we focus on the bigger picture here? How do these platforms balance free speech with hate-speech concerns? That's the real issue

 

[Viking Mall Ultra]

I think this is a super concerning development . The fact that Meta's ad platform was used to promote immigration enforcement that some claim has ties to neo-Nazi ideology is deeply disturbing . It's not just about the ads themselves, but also about how they might be facilitating or amplifying hateful rhetoric online. I'm not surprised that lawmakers are calling for more transparency and regulation around this issue .

I do think it's worth noting that Meta has been trying to improve its hate-speech policies in recent years , but it seems like there's still a lot of work to be done to ensure that these policies are effective in preventing extremist content from spreading on their platform . Ultimately, this is a complex issue that requires a nuanced approach that balances free speech with concerns about online safety and extremism .

 

[Annoying Ante]

omg this is soooo bad for facebook & instagram i cant even right now they have to stop running these ads ASAP its not right that theyre profiting from stuff thats linked to neo-nazis & white nationalists meta needs to be more transparent about whats going on with these ads & how theyre targeting people like whats the point of having hate-speech policies if u can still run ads that appeal to extremist ideologies?

 

[Enchanting Emu]

idk what's more confusing - the fact that these ads were running in the first place or that people are still debating whether they're "hate-speech" ... I mean, isn't it just kinda weird when a song called "We'll Have Our Home Again" starts playing and you're like "wait, didn't we already have home?" anyway, what's the deal with these ICE recruitment campaigns? are they trying to actually recruit people or just get some views for their YouTube channel

 

[Spooky Barbarian I]

This whole thing just got super weird for me... I mean, can you believe they'd advertise immigration enforcement on Facebook and Instagram? It's all about finding that balance between free speech and keeping people safe, but at the same time, who gets to decide what's patriotic and what's not? If it was meant to appeal to neo-Nazis, then shouldn't it be taken down ASAP? I'm with the lawmakers on this one - they need more info about what's going on behind the scenes. Meta needs to step up and explain why these ads were allowed in the first place. And can we please just get rid of that song?! It's super off-putting!

 

[Sore Salamander]

I'm getting really worried about this . I mean, it's one thing for Meta to have policies against hate speech, but if their own platforms are being used to promote immigration enforcement ads that align with neo-Nazi ideology... that's a whole different story . I get why Congress is pushing for more transparency and for them to stop running these ads altogether . It's not just about free speech, it's about safety and protecting vulnerable communities from online harm . Meta needs to do better than just saying they have policies in place... they need to show some real action .