In response to ongoing concerns about antisemitism on X, Ubisoft has decided to halt its live advertising on the platform, according to a report by BBC News. This move by Ubisoft follows the footsteps of other prominent companies like Apple, Disney, and Warner Bros Discovery, who have also paused their advertising on X.
The decision to suspend advertising specifically affects Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR, a newly launched spin-off game from Ubisoft’s popular franchise designed for virtual reality headsets. A Ubisoft spokesperson confirmed that the company had an active campaign on X, but they have now chosen to pause their advertising on the platform.
It is worth noting that X’s own public metrics revealed that Ubisoft’s ad had reached an impressive 10 million views before being disabled.
Media Matters for America, a pressure group known for its analysis of online content, recently claimed that brand posts were being displayed alongside X messages promoting Nazism and Holocaust denial. This revelation prompted several corporations to withdraw their ads from the platform. However, X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, strongly denied these allegations and even filed a lawsuit against Media Matters for America, accusing the group of manipulating data.
Meanwhile, X’s owner, Elon Musk, has faced criticism for sharing a post that contains an antisemitic conspiracy theory, although he denies being antisemitic himself and asserts that the information shared was the “actual truth.”
Since Musk’s acquisition of X last year, he has made controversial decisions, including reinstating accounts that were previously banned for hate speech. This recent controversy surrounding antisemitism on the platform occurs against a backdrop of global concerns over rising incidents of both antisemitism and Islamophobia, exacerbated by the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas.
In related news, Microsoft and Sony have decided to remove the option of directly sharing gameplay captures to X from their Xbox and PlayStation consoles this year. Some speculate that these changes are linked to Musk’s ownership of X and the platform’s introduction of significant fees for utilizing its API.
FAQs
Q: Why did Ubisoft suspend its advertising on X?
A: Ubisoft decided to pause its live advertising on X due to concerns about the presence of antisemitic content on the platform.
Q: Which other major brands have also paused their advertising on X?
A: Aside from Ubisoft, Apple, Disney, and Warner Bros Discovery are among the companies that have chosen to suspend their advertising on X.
Q: What was the reason behind Microsoft and Sony’s decision to remove the ability to share gameplay captures directly to X?
A: The removal of this feature is believed to be related to Elon Musk’s ownership of X and the platform’s introduction of substantial fees for using its API.
Q: Is Elon Musk, the owner of X, antisemitic?
A: Elon Musk denies being antisemitic, although he has faced criticism for sharing a post containing an antisemitic conspiracy theory. Musk insists that he shared it because he believed the information was the “actual truth.”
Q: What is the current global context regarding antisemitism and Islamophobia?
A: Concerns over rising incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia have grown globally, particularly in the wake of the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.