Republicans Cry Out: “Where is Eventbrite’s Fight Against Antisemitism?

As of late, Eventbrite, a popular ticketing and events platform, has come under fire from prominent Republicans, for failing to rid its website of events that are openly anti-Semitic in nature. While the platform does generally censor hate speech, some members of the GOP feel that its policies are inadequate in addressing certain types of bigotry. Senator Martha McSally, Senator Mitt Romney, and Senators Mike Lee and Marco Rubio have all expressed concern over the nature of the events that Eventbrite makes available to users. In a statement released to the press, Senator McSally condemned the company for not doing more to remove events that include hate speech: “Events promoting hate, division and anti-Semitism should not be tolerated on any platform, period. I urge Eventbrite to review its current policies and take immediate steps to remove these events and protect the platform from hate-filled rhetoric in the future.” Although Eventbrite has made an effort to remove offensive events from its platform, there remain some that remain live, such as an event hosted by the Global Bureau of Investigation titled “Know Your Jewish Enemy”, which has been deemed offensive and as a result may soon be taken down by the platform. It is not just conservative lawmakers who have expressed concern over some of the events on the website. A coalition of 90 organizations and prominent Jewish activists wrote a letter to the company, expressing their distress and calling for stronger policies to protect against hate speech and bigotry. The letter reads: “We urge you to step up efforts to swiftly remove hate-filled events and better police the platform. Content that promotes the demonization of Jews or any other minority deserves no place on Eventbrite and should be swiftly taken down.” As of yet, Eventbrite has yet to issue a comprehensive response to the various groups’ criticisms and pleas. It is clear that hate speech online can have serious real-world consequences. As more and more companies move towards digital platforms, they must also be committed to ensuring the safety and security of their users. Companies like Eventbrite must commit to upholding the values of diversity and inclusion and make sure that they do not enable the proliferation of bias and hate against any marginalized group. As of late, Eventbrite, a popular ticketing and events platform, has come under fire from prominent Republicans, for failing to rid its website of events that are openly anti-Semitic in nature. While the platform does generally censor hate speech, some members of the GOP feel that its policies are inadequate in addressing certain types of bigotry. Senator Martha McSally, Senator Mitt Romney, and Senators Mike Lee and Marco Rubio have all expressed concern over the nature of the events that Eventbrite makes available to users. In a statement released to the press, Senator McSally condemned the company for not doing more to remove events that include hate speech: “Events promoting hate, division and anti-Semitism should not be tolerated on any platform, period. I urge Eventbrite to review its current policies and take immediate steps to remove these events and protect the platform from hate-filled rhetoric in the future.” Although Eventbrite has made an effort to remove offensive events from its platform, there remain some that remain live, such as an event hosted by the Global Bureau of Investigation titled “Know Your Jewish Enemy”, which has been deemed offensive and as a result may soon be taken down by the platform. It is not just conservative lawmakers who have expressed concern over some of the events on the website. A coalition of 90 organizations and prominent Jewish activists wrote a letter to the company, expressing their distress and calling for stronger policies to protect against hate speech and bigotry. The letter reads: “We urge you to step up efforts to swiftly remove hate-filled events and better police the platform. Content that promotes the demonization of Jews or any other minority deserves no place on Eventbrite and should be swiftly taken down.” As of yet, Eventbrite has yet to issue a comprehensive response to the various groups’ criticisms and pleas. It is clear that hate speech online can have serious real-world consequences. As more and more companies move towards digital platforms, they must also be committed to ensuring the safety and security of their users. Companies like Eventbrite must commit to upholding the values of diversity and inclusion and make sure that they do not enable the proliferation of bias and hate against any marginalized group.