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[–]penelopepnortneyBecome ungovernable[S,M] [score hidden] stickied comment (0 children)

https://archive.md/oNql2

I'm posting this mostly because of information it provides on the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), which is part of the Censorship Industrial Complex.

GARM, a 2019 initiative designed to ensure “brand safety,” has faced accusations of marginalizing conservative news outlets and viewpoints by influencing advertising practices. Though the initiative was dissolved in 2023 amid antitrust scrutiny, critics worry that its goals may persist through corporate practices.

The ADF (Alliance Defending Freedom), representing Disney shareholders alongside Bowyer Research and Patron Partners, had pressed the entertainment giant to affirm its support for free expression. However, Disney reportedly stated that issuing such a declaration was not in its “best interest.”

More recently, the organization has turned its attention to corporate policies it views as suppressing conservative and religious perspectives. Jeremy Tedesco, ADF’s senior vice president of corporate engagement, described their broader mission: “We’ve helped shareholders file about 10 resolutions this shareholder season related specifically to GARM, but we’ve also filed over 50 resolutions on issues like de-platforming [and] DEI in vendor contracts.”

...concerns about corporate censorship, particularly in light of GARM’s past activities. The initiative, backed by major corporations such as Coca-Cola and Unilever, reportedly encouraged its members to cut advertising ties with platforms like X after Elon Musk’s 2022 acquisition. A subsequent House Judiciary Committee investigation found that GARM’s practices likely violated federal antitrust laws, describing its actions as “colluding to suppress voices and views.”

Although GARM has officially disbanded, critics believe its agenda persists... [Tedesco] also raised concerns about the emergence of similar initiatives, suggesting that companies could continue leveraging advertising dollars to silence disfavored views.