The North Face Boycotts Facebook Over Handling of Hate Speech and Misinformation
Several major companies have joined the #StopHateForProfit campaign.
The North Face has committed to an advertising boycott of Facebook in response to the social media platform’s handling of hate speech and false information.
The brand’s decision follows a steady stream of backlash against Facebook’s refusal to moderate political advertisements that contain misinformation. On June 1, hundreds of Facebook employees staged a virtual walkout protesting the company’s inaction regarding a post by President Donald Trump that threatened, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Many believe the statement, which addressed Minneapolis demonstrators protesting the murder of George Floyd, violates Facebook policies on incitement of violence.
On June 19, The North Face tweeted its decision to pull all advertising from the website. “We’re in. We’re out @Facebook,” the brand wrote, adding the hashtag #StopHateForProfit, an NAACP-backed campaign calling for a widespread boycott of Facebook. Companies including Patagonia, outdoor equipment retailer REI and freelance recruiting platform Upwork have joined the initiative.
“The North Face is halting all activity and U.S. paid advertising with Facebook until stricter policies are put in place to stop racist, violent or hateful content and misinformation from circulating on the platform,” a statement by The North Face parent company VF Corp reads. Carolyn Everson, Facebook’s vice president of global marketing, expressed support for companies choosing to partake in the boycott: “We deeply respect any brand’s decision and remain focused on the important work of removing hate speech and providing critical voting information. Our conversations with marketers and civil rights organizations are about how, together, we can be a force for good,” she said.
Head to the Stop Hate For Profit website to learn more.
