While arguments are still raging over "fake news" that was promoted on Facebook during the election season, the second largest internet ad placement company will no longer allow conservative website Breitbart.com to use its services due to content that includes hate speech.
According to Bloomberg Technology, AppNexus -- which handles about $2.5 billion in ad spending -- is pulling the plug on the website that has promoted itself as the home of the so-called "alt-right" by promoting extreme rightwing and racist stories.
"We did a human audit of Breitbart and determined there were enough articles and headlines that cross that line, using either coded or overt language," AppNexus spokesperson Joshua Zeitz explained.
The Breitbart website came under increased scrutiny after CEO Steve Bannon joined the campaign of President-elect Donald Trump, before being tabbed as senior White House advisor.
According to the spokesperson, Breibart isn't being dropped because it posts fake news stories, with Zeitz stating, "This blacklist was solely about hate speech violation."
Breitbart doesn't buy ads directly from AppNexus, however the website works through various automated networks and exchanges and will be banned from acquiring any advertising from the exchange that AppNexus oversees.
The conservative website will still be able to access ads via Google's DoubleClick service which is the leader in digital display advertising.
According to the Bloomberg report, Google has rules in place barring its ads from running next to "harassing or bullying content" and "content that incites or advocates for harm against an individual or group."
