Vimeo Boots Alex Jones for ‘Discriminatory and Hateful Content’
Video service joins Facebook, Spotify, and Apple in dropping InfoWars chief
Sean Burch | August 13, 2018 @ 7:51 AM
Last Updated: August 13, 2018 @ 8:00 AM
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Vimeo is the latest tech company to boot Alex Jones from its platform, with the video hosting service dropping the controversial conspiracy theorist for “discriminatory and hateful content,” TheWrap confirmed on Monday.
InfoWars — Jones’ media outlet — had about a dozen videos pulled from the site. The move comes after Facebook, Apple, and Spotify moved in quick succession last week to drop his content.
“We can confirm that Vimeo removed InfoWars’ account on Sunday, August 12 following the uploading of videos on Thursday and Friday that violated our Terms of Service prohibitions on discriminatory and hateful content,” a Vimeo rep told TheWrap. “Vimeo has notified the account owner and issued a refund.”
Vimeo declined to tell TheWrap how the videos specifically violated its terms of service.
CEO Anjali Sud addressed the decision to jettison InfoWars and Jones during a company town hall meeting on Monday morning, according to Business Insider, the first outlet to report the story.
Jones has made a name for himself pushing several wild and unsupported claims, including a recent warning that Democrats were plotting to start a second Civil War on the Fourth of July. Perhaps most notoriously, Jones called the Sandy Hook school shooting a “hoax” — a statement that he is now being sued over by the families of eight victims.
While many of the biggest names in tech spoke out against Jones last week, Twitter said that Jones remains active on its platform because he hasn’t violated its terms of service. The exiling from Facebook, Apple, and Spotify seemed to backfire, at least temporarily, however, by sending the InfoWars app rocketing up the download charts for news apps in the process.
10 Most Shocking Russian Troll Posts on Facebook and Instagram, From Hillary Clinton to Police Brutality (Photos)
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.
House Intelligence Committee
Many posts pushed the narrative that Hillary Clinton would confiscate guns if she were elected President.
House Intelligence Committee
This graphic meme painted cops as KKK members attacking a young black child.
House Intelligence Committee
Only "sissies" and other undesirables wouldn't support Donald Trump, many of the memes said.
House Intelligence Committee
President Obama was a "pawn" and "traitor" in the hands of "Arabian Sheikhs," said one 2016 ad.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Black Matters US" page touched on hot button issues like police shootings.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Army of Jesus" page shared a bible verse, along with this meme.
House Intelligence Committee
Russian trolls also used Instagram to spread sponsored political memes.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Blacktivist" page routinely shared memes on Colin Kaepernick and other football players kneeling during the national anthem.
House Intelligence Committee
"Heart of Texas" routinely posted on "Killary Rotten Clinton," and threatened to secede from the union if she won the election.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Being Patriotic" page labeled ex-cons as "Obama voters."
House Intelligence Committee
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Congress just released 3,500 posts touching on a myriad of topics
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.