Algorithms bankroll antisemitism as Jews are targeted, Israel isolated, extremists empowered by weakened Western resolve.
An explosive investigation by Center for Countering Digital Hate in partnership with Jewish Federations of North America alleges that Instagram is actively recommending accounts selling extremist, antisemitic, and racist merchandise—turning hate into a profitable business.
The report, “Hate for Sale: How Instagram Helps Sellers of Hateful Merchandise Reach a Billion Views,” claims just 11 accounts amassed 1.5 billion views and generated approximately $1.3 million in sales, all boosted directly by Instagram’s recommendation system. Following Meta’s rollback of key moderation safeguards, Nazi-themed and racist “hate merch” reportedly saw a 3.75x surge in visibility, exposing millions to radical propaganda.
Among the promoted content: Nazi glorification, Holocaust denial, demonization of Jews, mockery of George Floyd’s murder, jokes about slavery, and merchandise bearing slogans like “Life is a race. Be a racist.” The report also warns that AI-generated hateful imagery is spreading rapidly, often unlabeled or inconsistently moderated.
Two accounts alone allegedly earned $839,700 and $499,750, using mainstream platforms like Shopify, Wix, and Payhip. After notification, Wix and Payhip removed the content; responses elsewhere remain unclear. CCDH CEO Imran Ahmed warned that algorithmic amplification monetizes hatred, funding further radicalization with every purchase.
JFNA CEO Eric D. Fingerhut underscored the stakes: social media now plays an outsized role in spreading antisemitism, and companies can—and must—do far more.
Why this matters for Israel and the free world
This is not abstract “speech.” It is financial infrastructure for extremism—the same ideological ecosystem that fuels antisemitic violence worldwide and legitimizes terror groups attacking Israel. While Israel confronts terror on the battlefield, Western tech platforms are subsidizing the propaganda war through negligence and profit-driven algorithms. Democracies must draw a line: no monetization of hate, no algorithmic oxygen for extremism.
