Anti-Defamation League CEO: Ye’s Stunt Exposed Tech Platforms’ Antisemitism Problem

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For a considerable period, our society has been susceptible to figures such as celebrities and influencers who propagate hate. Going back to Father Charles Coughlin in the 1930s and Mel Gibson in the 2000s, these individuals have misused their influence to disseminate conspiracy theories or stereotypes against Jewish people to a broad audience.

Kanye West, both a renowned rapper and popular internet figure known as “Ye,” stands alone in his unique category. Unlike others who have preceded him, Ye has never concealed or disguised his dislike towards Jews, nor has he relied on old antisemitic myths to express his beliefs. Initially seeming to offer an apology to the Jewish community, Ye has repeatedly amplified his antisemitic remarks – over and over again. Notorious for his disdain towards Jewish people, Ye infamously threatened “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.” His most recent apology, delivered last week, was a series of brief tweets that came just under 9 hours after an antisemitic extremist attacked and killed a young couple near the Capital Jewish Museum.

He declared that he’s finished with antisemitism, but I find it hard to believe. Kanye West’s history of recurring antisemitism dates back to 2022, so his latest antisemitic act – the unveiling of a music video named “Heil Hitler” and a track titled “WW3,” which seems to celebrate the designer of the Holocaust and further perpetuates antisemitic stereotypes – shouldn’t come as a shock.

A more serious issue arises due to technology’s capability, where millions instantly heard a new song spread across social media sites like Spotify and SoundCloud. Despite his lyrics promoting Hitler, which clearly violated their policies against hate speech, many of these platforms didn’t initially take action when the video was first uploaded. Regrettably, some still haven’t taken any action up to this point.

The lack of action can lead to significant repercussions. For instance, when expressions such as “Heil Hitler” become more widespread, our societal barriers against explicit antisemitism begin to weaken, and the boundaries against various other types of hatred also erode.

The increase in Ye’s affinity for Hitler isn’t occurring without context. With anti-Semitic sentiments at their highest levels in decades, Jewish communities worldwide have been subjected to a surge of hate speech and vandalism, particularly since October 7th. His remarks about Jews and admiration for Hitler are resonating with a younger, more impressionable demographic.

According to a recent survey by the Anti-Defamation League, 46% of the global adult population harbors deeply ingrained anti-Semitic views, which is over twice as high compared to just ten years ago. Moreover, a startling revelation from U.S. polling data in 2024 indicates that millennials and Generation Z are more likely to hold onto anti-Semitic stereotypes than older generations.

Social media platforms offer individuals like Kanye West, who have been criticized for their antisemitic, racist, and bigoted views, an enormous worldwide audience that Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister, could only dream of. To clarify, West boasts a following of 33.5 million on X (previously known as Twitter), while the current global Jewish population is estimated to be around 15.8 million. The harm caused by these tech companies as they struggle to address issues they themselves have created is difficult to quantify.

The current situation is exacerbated by the retrogression of certain platforms, such as X and Meta, in their strategies to combat antisemitism. For instance, Meta now only actively deletes hate speech after a user complaint has been lodged. Mark Zuckerberg refers to this as a “trade-off.” In my opinion, it’s more aptly described as a shirking of responsibility.

Previously implemented safeguards, which could have curtailed the spread of abhorrent remarks like Ye’s “Heil Hitler,” have been removed from prominent social media platforms. Consequently, we’ve observed a significant rise in antisemitic harassment towards Jewish members of Congress on Facebook this year, with incidents increasing nearly fivefold since the start of the year. This escalation is likely due to the contentious updates to Meta’s moderation policies in January. Our recent evaluation graded X with an “F” for their handling of explicit and obvious antisemitic content. Such modifications foster an online atmosphere where antisemitism not only persists but flourishes on these platforms.

On May 8th, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender, Ye’s Hitler video has garnered an astonishing 10 million views on X to date. Notably, Spotify removed the associated song after public outcry, but has yet to address why it continues to host major podcasts that promote Holocaust denial and intensify hate speech. Remarkably, another Nazi-themed song by Ye, “WW3,” is still accessible on their platform.

In my opinion, it’s disheartening to see extremist bigots reveling in their perceived victories, especially when their actions inspire others. These far-right figures have been spreading a video on various platforms, including Andrew Tate, who is infamous for his misogynistic views. This particular video of him playing a song has garnered over three million views. It’s crucial for social media platforms that serve a younger demographic to prioritize user safety and shield them from harassment and offensive speech.

Ye’s song emerges in a period where understanding of the Holocaust history is diminishing. In a recent survey, it was found that approximately one-fifth of respondents claimed ignorance about the Holocaust; fewer than half can correctly identify its historical truthfulness. There’s no question that his actions and statements hold weight. The Anti-Defamation League reported at least 30 instances of antisemitism in 2022, many of which directly linked to Ye following his antisemitic remarks that made headlines.

It’s been ten years for Facebook to acknowledge its Holocaust denial issue. Today, social media platforms should cease regressing in their duty to combat hate speech. They need to take action now, before it’s too late.

Jonathan A. Greenblatt is CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League. 

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2025-05-29 16:25