UK Riots: X Is Profiting From Accounts That Fueled Racist Violence, Analysis Finds
X has come under scrutiny for running advertisements alongside content from five UK accounts that allegedly spread hate and misinformation during recent racist and Islamophobic riots.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) revealed that these accounts, which were verified and promoted false claims following the Southport attack, garnered 260 million views in just one week.
X—formerly Twitter—placed ads for prominent brands like GlaxoSmithKline and the International Olympic Committee near these posts, generating revenue from harmful content.
Hate Speech and Misinformation Fuel UK Riots
The controversy centers on five high-profile accounts that posted misleading information about the identity of the Southport attacker, falsely labeling him as a Muslim or migrant.
This misinformation is believed to have played a significant role in igniting riots across the UK, targeting mosques and asylum seeker accommodations.
Despite X’s policies against hate speech, these posts were not removed, highlighting the platform’s inconsistent enforcement.
Notably, the five accounts include figures like Andrew Tate, who falsely claimed, “ILLEGAL MIGRANT STABS 6 LITTLE GIRLS,” and Laurence Fox, who called for the removal of Islam from Britain.
All five users have a “blue tick” verification, enhancing their credibility and reach within X’s algorithm.
Advertisers Unknowingly Funding Hate
The CCDH’s analysis estimates that ads displayed alongside these posts resulted in approximately 38.9 million ad impressions within a week.
With X’s ad rates averaging $6.46 per 1,000 views, the platform is estimated to have earned nearly £28,000 ($35,867) daily from these posts during the riots.
This could translate into over £10 million annually if the viewership remains consistent.
“Elon Musk’s X played a significant role in these riots, with algorithms turbocharging the spread of lies spread by bad actors he let back onto the platform,” Imran Ahmed, CEO of CCDH stated.
The situation has prompted calls for advertisers to reassess their association with X and for regulators to implement stricter measures to prevent the monetization of hate speech.
Feature Image Credit: Drik/Getty Images
