Lawmakers Call on Meta to Remove ICE Ad Featuring Neo-Nazi Anthem from Social Media Platforms
US lawmakers are demanding that social media company Meta remove ads by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that feature imagery and music intended to appeal to white nationalists and neo-Nazis. The ads, which were published on Facebook and Instagram, included the song "We'll Have Our Home Again," a popular anthem in neo-Nazi online spaces.
The move comes after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis, prompting widespread outrage. Lawmakers Reps. Becca Balint (D-VT) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) have written to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, calling on the company to cease running the ads on its platforms.
The lawmakers argue that the ads are part of a larger digital recruitment campaign by DHS that uses themes appealing to white nationalists. They questioned what safeguards existed to prevent extremist-linked content from appearing in government advertising and whether recent changes to Meta's hate-speech policies allowed the company to run the ads.
Meta has refused to comment on the matter, but DHS officials have defended their recruitment messaging, arguing that criticism of the campaign amounts to an attack on patriotic expression. The department also rejected claims that the song had neo-Nazi ties, citing its origins in a far-right online group.
However, extremism researchers and organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center's Hatewatch project, have documented the song's circulation within organized white nationalist networks and its appearance in recruitment efforts by far-right groups.
The lawmakers frame the controversy as bigger than a single post, accusing Meta of profiting from a large-scale digital recruitment campaign. They are seeking to know what restrictions apply to paid government content under Meta's policies and whether the company will commit to ending its digital advertising partnership with DHS.
As the situation continues to unfold, Meta remains silent on the matter, leaving lawmakers and critics to push for greater accountability from the social media giant.
US lawmakers are demanding that social media company Meta remove ads by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that feature imagery and music intended to appeal to white nationalists and neo-Nazis. The ads, which were published on Facebook and Instagram, included the song "We'll Have Our Home Again," a popular anthem in neo-Nazi online spaces.
The move comes after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis, prompting widespread outrage. Lawmakers Reps. Becca Balint (D-VT) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) have written to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, calling on the company to cease running the ads on its platforms.
The lawmakers argue that the ads are part of a larger digital recruitment campaign by DHS that uses themes appealing to white nationalists. They questioned what safeguards existed to prevent extremist-linked content from appearing in government advertising and whether recent changes to Meta's hate-speech policies allowed the company to run the ads.
Meta has refused to comment on the matter, but DHS officials have defended their recruitment messaging, arguing that criticism of the campaign amounts to an attack on patriotic expression. The department also rejected claims that the song had neo-Nazi ties, citing its origins in a far-right online group.
However, extremism researchers and organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center's Hatewatch project, have documented the song's circulation within organized white nationalist networks and its appearance in recruitment efforts by far-right groups.
The lawmakers frame the controversy as bigger than a single post, accusing Meta of profiting from a large-scale digital recruitment campaign. They are seeking to know what restrictions apply to paid government content under Meta's policies and whether the company will commit to ending its digital advertising partnership with DHS.
As the situation continues to unfold, Meta remains silent on the matter, leaving lawmakers and critics to push for greater accountability from the social media giant.
... like what's up with that? It's not just about one ad or one campaign, it's a big deal when they're profiting from neo-Nazi recruitment efforts 
. I mean, can you imagine if this was a black nationalist group trying to recruit people online and Meta was running their ads on the platform? 
The fact that DHS is defending these ads as "patriotic expression" is just mind-blowing 
. I'm all for free speech, but not when it comes at the expense of people's lives and safety 
.
. While I understand that freedom of expression is an essential cornerstone of democratic societies, it's also crucial to acknowledge the harm that extremist ideologies can cause 
. The fact that ICE has chosen to utilize such themes in their digital recruitment campaign raises serious questions about their intentions and whether they're aware of the potential consequences of their actions 
. The Southern Poverty Law Center's research on the song's circulation within white nationalist networks serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of vigilance in detecting and mitigating extremist content 
.
. The consequences of inaction can be severe, not only for the individuals affected but also for the social fabric of our communities 
.
this is insane meta needs to take responsibility here they cant just say its a patriotic expression when its super obvious that theyre profiting off a recruitment campaign by a group thats known for hate speech 
its not just about removing ads its about making sure they dont enable hate groups in the first place 
i mean what other content might be hidden behind a veil of "patriotic expression"? 
. 
. and another one that shows how many times the "We'll Have Our Home Again" song has been used by far-right groups online... it's way too much 
. and until then, i'm just gonna keep flooding this thread with stats and charts because, why not? 
And if they do allow it, why are they allowing it in government ads? It just seems like a bad idea to me... 
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for free speech and all that, but there has to be some line drawn somewhere. And what about the people who get hurt by this kind of thing? 
Renee Good's family deserves justice and answers, you know? 
. I'm all for greater accountability from them, and I hope they take a hard look at their policies and make some changes ASAP 
.