A recent analysis by a German organization focused on corporate responsibility has uncovered that social media sites Meta (Facebook) and X (previously Twitter) approved ads that included anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim messages in the lead-up to Germany's federal elections.

For this study, researchers provided 20 advertisements that contained violent language and hate speech aimed at minority groups.

The findings revealed that X authorized all 10 of the ads submitted, while Meta approved 5 out of the 10. The ads included statements advocating violence against Jews and Muslims, likening Muslim refugees to 'viruses' and 'rodents,' as well as calls for their extermination or sterilization.

One advertisement even promoted setting synagogues on fire to 'halt the Jewish globalist agenda.' Researchers pointed out that, while the ads were flagged and removed prior to being published, the results raise significant concerns about the content moderation practices of these social media companies.

The organization conducting the study has reported its conclusions to the European Commission, which is anticipated to initiate an investigation into potential breaches of the EU Digital Services Act by Meta and X. The release of these findings is particularly pertinent, given the imminent German federal elections, stirring worries about how hate speech may impact the democratic process.

Facebook had previously been embroiled in controversy during the Cambridge Analytica affair, where a data analytics firm was found to have influenced elections globally using similar tactics, resulting in a $5 billion penalty.

Additionally, Elon Musk, the owner of X, has faced allegations of personal involvement in the German elections, including endorsing the far-right AfD party.

It remains unclear whether the approval of these ads reflects Musk's political inclinations or his broader commitment to 'free speech' on X. Musk has dismantled X’s content moderation framework and replaced it with a 'community notes' system, allowing users to add context to posts for alternative perspectives.

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, introduced a similar feature for Facebook, although he stated that AI-based detection systems for content moderation would still be utilized to address hate speech and unlawful content.

However, this transition has raised alarm, especially as reports indicate that extremist right-wing content is being increasingly promoted on platforms such as X and TikTok, influencing public sentiment.

The current economic decline and escalating violence associated with attacks involving Muslim migrants in recent months have further exacerbated tensions.

It is uncertain whether the rise in extremist content is a result of real-life events or whether social media algorithms are amplifying such messages to boost user engagement.

Regardless, both Musk and Zuckerberg appear willing to reduce content moderation despite growing pressure from the European Union and German officials.

Whether this investigation will prompt the EU to enforce stricter regulations on X, Facebook, and TikTok is still unknown, yet it underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing free expression with the need to curb extremist content.

The study highlights the broader concern that hate speech frequently serves political objectives, complicating the role of social media platforms in content moderation.

While the debate over regulatory approaches continues, the question of who should regulate digital speech—private companies or government bodies—remains unresolved.

Similar to traditional media organizations, social media platforms may increasingly come under scrutiny regarding how they manage user-generated content.