Facebook accused of enabling advertisers to target anti-semites 

Occurred: September 2017

Facebook's advertising platform allowed advertisers to target users who expressed anti-Semitic interests, potentially exposing Jewish people to hate and discrimination.

What happened

Facebook's self-service ad-buying system enabled advertisers to direct content to users interested in topics like "Jew hater" and "How to burn jews," reaching approximately 2,300 people with these interests, according to ProPublica. 

The finding exposed a significant flaw in Facebook's algorithm-driven ad targeting system, potentially amplifying hate speech and discrimination against Jewish people.

Why it happened

The issue arose due to Facebook's automated ad category generation system, which created problematic categories based on users' self-reported interests, employers, or fields of study. 

The algorithm's lack of human oversight and inability to distinguish between hateful content and legitimate interests led to the creation and availability of these anti-Semitic categories for advertisers.

What it means

The finding highlights the need for improved content moderation, algorithmic oversight, and proactive measures to prevent the spread of anti-Semitism and other forms of hate online.

System 🤖

Operator: 
Developer: Facebook
Country: USA
Sector: 
Purpose: Target advertising audiences
Technology: Advertising management system
Issue: Bias/discrimination

Investigations, assessments, audits 👁️

Page info
Type: Incident
Published: February 2025