YouTube Ads From Major Brands Are Landing on Project 2025 Videos
- Verizon, SKIMS, Slack ads placed near controversial content
- YouTube says some of the videos violate content policies
The study highlights a longstanding concern for major advertisers that their messaging may unintentionally appear alongside controversial content.
Photographer: Gabby Jones/BloombergYouTube’s automated advertising systems are placing video ads from major brands alongside content that promotes controversial Project 2025 policy proposals and election misinformation, according to a new report.
Researchers from Eko, a nonprofit consumer watchdog, reviewed advertisements that appeared alongside a sample of 11 videos on Google’s YouTube that backed Project 2025 policies, conspiracy theories about the 2020 US election and hateful rhetoric. The videos included ads from over 60 global brands, including SKIMS, BetterHelp, Verizon and Slack. Several of the brands have publicly made diversity, equity and inclusion commitments that appear to run counter to the video messaging.