(Reuters) – A handful of U.S. companies have pulled advertising from Facebook Inc in support of a campaign that called out the social media giant for not doing enough to stop hate speech on its platforms.
The Stop Hate for Profit campaign was started by several U.S. civil rights groups after the death of African-American George Floyd in police custody triggered widespread protests against racial discrimination in the United States.
Unilever PLC <ULVR.L>
The consumer goods company said it will stop advertising on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in the United States for the rest of the year, citing “divisiveness and hate speech during this polarized election period in the U.S.”
Verizon Communications Inc <VZ.N>
“Our brand safety standards have not changed. We’re pausing our advertising until Facebook can create an acceptable solution that makes us comfortable and is consistent with what we’ve done with YouTube and other partners,” the telecom operator told Reuters.
The North Face
The outdoor brand, a unit of VF Corp <VFC.N>, said it would pull out of all Facebook-owned platforms.
“We’re in. We’re Out @Facebook.” (https://bit.ly/3eyboy4)
Ben & Jerry’s
The ice-cream maker said it would pause all paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram in the United States as of July 1. (https://benjerrys.co/3ds0IzF)
Dashlane
The subscription-based password manager said it was stopping all paid and organic posts on Facebook and Instagram through July at minimum. (https://bit.ly/2Vfe643)
“I’m calling on my fellow CMOs in tech to join me,” the company’s chief marketing officer, Joy Howard, said in a statement.
Eddie Bauer
“In support of the ‘#StopHateforProfit’ initiative, Eddie Bauer will suspend all paid ads on Facebook and Instagram through the end of July, effective immediately,” the clothing store chain said in a tweet. (https://bit.ly/2Yso440)
Eileen Fisher
The women’s clothing designer tweeted, “Along with other industry partners, we’re pausing all paid ads on Facebook and Instagram for the month of July.” (https://bit.ly/31jfvu3)
Goodby Silverstein
“We will join #StopHate4Profit and stop posting on Facebook for the month of July,” the advertising agency said in a statement on Twitter. (https://bit.ly/2NwVQPe)
Magnolia Pictures
The film distributor and studio became the first Hollywood company to join the movement. The company said in a tweet it would stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram, starting immediately, through at least the end of July. (https://bit.ly/2NrJg44)
Patagonia
“We will pull all ads on Facebook and Instagram, effective immediately, through at least the end of July, pending meaningful action from the social media giant,” the outdoor apparel brand said. (https://bit.ly/2ND3VCl)
Rakuten Viber
“Viber will remove all Facebook-related contact points from our app including Facebook Connect, Facebook SDK, and GIPHY, as well as cease all ad spending on Facebook,” Djamel Agaoua, chief executive officer of the messaging app company, said in a statement on Twitter. (https://bit.ly/3dFFwqk)
Recreational Equipment Inc
“For 82 years, we have put people over profits. We’re pulling all Facebook/Instagram advertising for the month of July,” REI tweeted. (https://bit.ly/3evC7eR)
Upwork Inc
“Upwork is hitting pause on hate with no Facebook advertising in July,” the company tweeted. (https://bit.ly/3fU944V)
(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Sweta Singh and Maju Samuel)
