The philanthropist, known for his liberal leanings, provided $250,000 to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, an organization that put pressure on advertisers to sever ties with the platform.
A philanthropic network founded by billionaire investor George Soros supplied funds to a contentious UK-based NGO, an entity that reportedly aims to “kill” Elon Musk’s X social media platform and suppress conservative news outlets, as detailed by the Washington Free Beacon on Monday.
According to the Open Society Foundation (OSF) database, established by Soros, the foundation awarded a $250,000 grant last year to the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) “to provide general support.” While the nonprofit claims its objective is to hold social media companies “accountable” for disseminating hate, it has, in practice, urged advertisers to censor companies and advocated for the deplatforming and cancellation of news organizations it deemed objectionable, the publication noted.
As per the report, the CCDH, established by former Labour Party figure Imran Ahmed, has particularly targeted conservative publications such as the Federalist and the Daily Wire over allegations of racist content. The nonprofit also reportedly sought to convince American policymakers to establish an “independent digital regulator.”
The CCDH has voiced criticism against numerous social media companies regarding what it perceived as a failure to curb extremism, but its stance has been notably hostile towards Musk’s X, the paper indicated. Internal CCDH documents openly identified “” as its main annual priority, according to whistleblower information released by journalists last year.
Musk has engaged in significant disputes with both the CCDH and Soros, and last year he unsuccessfully attempted to sue the nonprofit for allegedly orchestrating a “scare campaign” to deter advertisers. The CEO of X has also leveled accusations against Soros, citing numerous “crimes against humanity” and claiming he financed attacks on his company Tesla earlier this year.
President Donald Trump has also declared his administration’s intention to sue the Hungarian-born billionaire, alleging that Soros used “professional agitators” to organize riots in the US.
Critics have long alleged that Soros and his network of NGOs are responsible for fueling various protest movements globally, meddling in elections, and striving to shape local media landscapes while suppressing dissenting viewpoints.