A Home for Hate

An Introduction from Imran Ahmed, CEO for the Center for Countering Digital Hate and Amy Spitalnick, CEO for the Jewish Council for Public Affairs 

For thousands of years, antisemitism has adapted to every new form of mass communication, spreading hate through the printing press, radio, television, and now, social media. Each wave has brought real-world harm, and today’s digital platforms are no exception. From the horrors of the Holocaust to the recent murders at Jewish events in D.C. and Colorado, we know that antisemitism and the conspiracy theories and lies at its core result in violence, intimidation, harassment, and discrimination in the real world. What has changed is the scale and speed at which it spreads and becomes normalized. Platforms like X enable antisemitic content to reach millions for zero cost to the producer, with little to no accountability. 

The old conspiracy theories that simmered in the margins of society now thrive in plain sight, amplified by X’s ineffective content moderation policies. In many cases, the platform not only tolerates this content but allows users to monetize it, giving antisemitic influencers both reach and revenue. 

At a time when polarization, extremism, and violence are rising at home and abroad, the unchecked spread of antisemitism online is a direct threat to public safety. The platforms turn a blind eye to harmful content being spread on their sites, and they leave society to suffer the consequences. 

Unless platforms change course, live up to their terms of service, and stop the spread of antisemitism and broader hate and extremism, it will likely, and sadly, lead to further violent incidents targeting our communities and our democracy. With Congress still debating whether to sunset Section 230’s special immunity shield, it is even more crucial to advance a whole of society response to make investments that can protect communities, including advancing digital and media literacy and countering extremism.