Advertisements from many prominent Canadian companies and organizations appeared in the feeds of extremist accounts on X, prompting some to temporarily halt advertisements on the social media platform following an investigation conducted by CBC News.

They have joined a growing number of brands pulling back from X, formerly known as Twitter, amid the rampant rise in hate-inciting content and owner Elon Musk’s clear support for anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and other far-right conspiracy theories.

A review conducted by CBC News of about twenty accounts linked to white nationalists, white supremacists, misogynists, and other extremists found ads from major brands such as Samsung Canada, CF Montréal, and Pathways Alliance, an oil industry lobby group.

Advertisements for Samsung’s new Galaxy Flip phone also appeared in results when searching for a hashtag used to spread racist content, with other posts containing messages like Keep Europe White.

Samsung ads also appeared in the feed of an account flagged by the tech watchdog group Tech Transparency Project for spreading Islamophobic and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

Additionally, Samsung ads were spotted in the feeds of Libs of TikTok, which LGBTQ+ advocates say stirs hatred against transgender people, as well as Mike Sernovitch, whom extremism researchers described as a “racist male chauvinist.”

The lobby group’s ads also appeared in the feed of an individual leading a far-right fitness group, and his posts include images of the Sonnenrad tattoo, a symbol popular among neo-Nazis.

Representatives from Pathways Alliance have not responded to emails from CBC News seeking comment.

B'nai Brith plans to continue advertising:

Ads for the Montreal soccer team, CF Montréal, and the Jewish advocacy group “B'nai Brith Canada” appeared in the feed of Richard Spencer, a well-known white nationalist (new window) who helped lead a 2017 march where his followers chanted “Jews will not replace us.”

Michael Mostyn, CEO of B'nai Brith Canada, said that despite his organization’s concerns about anti-Semitism on social media, it has no plans to stop advertising on X.

He said in an interview that B'nai Brith made a conscious decision to remain on social media.

So, if you make a conscious decision to stay in social media... there are many good and bad things that come with all of that.

However, other companies and organizations said they stopped advertising on X when CBC News informed them where their ads were appearing.

Bell Media suspended ads on X after being told that an ad for one of its subsidiaries, the news division of Quebec broadcaster Noovo, appeared in the feed of a far-right fitness leader.