• by Colin Kirkland , October 4, 2023

The ADL says that the platform has worked to combat the issue in recent weeks.

“We appreciate X’s stated intent over the last few weeks to address antisemitism and hate on the platform,” the ADL wrote on X Wednesday afternoon, adding in its full statement that while “X, along with other social media platforms, has a serious issue with antisemites and other extremists using these platforms to push their hateful ideas,” the organization acknowledges X’s recent actions.

“This has been useful,” it continued, adding that “more needs to be done; and, as we have with other companies, in the spirit of collaboration, we are hopeful that we can continue to engage with X on this important matter.”

In two posts on X, Musk thanked the ADL for buying advertising and “clarifying” its support of advertising on the platform.

The ADL made clear in its statement that despite allegations that it had “orchestrated a boycott of X or caused billions of dollars of losses to the company,” the organization was advertising on the platform until the anti-ADL attacks began just several weeks ago. 

Notably, these allegations and attacks were mostly piloted by Musk himself. At the beginning of September, Musk tweeted that X was being strong-armed into filing a defamation lawsuit against the ADL, saying that the organization falsely accused him and the platform of being anti-Semitic.

“To clear our platform’s name on the matter of anti-Semitism, it looks like we have no choice but to file a defamation lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League … oh the irony!” the billionaire celebrity posted.

Musk continued to blame the ADL for falling U.S. advertising revenue -- which according to recent reports has dwindled to 5% of the country’s ad spending (down 12% in the time preceding Musk’s takeover).

“Our US advertising revenue is still down 60%, primarily due to pressure on advertisers by @ADL (that’s what advertisers tell us), so they almost succeeded in killing X/Twitter!” Musk wrote.

These attacks don’t include Musk’s public invocation of antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories through the targeting of Jewish billionaire George Soros and continuous engagement of antisemitic content on the platform.

“A better, healthier, and safer X would be a win for the world,” the ADL added in its statement. “We’ve said that publicly and repeatedly, and we hope that company leadership shares that goal as well. As we do with all platforms, we will credit X as it moves in that direction, and we also will call it out when it has not.”