Twitter apologises for letting ads target neo-Nazis and homophobes on its website

Twitter has finally admitted that its advertising algorithms can target hate groups like neo-Nazis and apologised for the "error".

A BBC investigation by Joe Tidy revealed that the company is able to suggest relevant advertising for people who use terms like "neo-Nazi", "white supremacists" and "anti-gay".

Like most social media sites, Twitter creates data profiles of its users and sells the information to advertisers.

For instance, the term "neo-Nazi" would reach a potential audience of 67,000 to 81,000 people in the UK, according to the BBC.

Twitter also provided advertising estimates for 13 to 24 year olds using words like "anorexia" and "bulimia".

In response, Twitter said they were "very sorry" and that it was an "error" the terms had gotten past their ban on targeting ads based on sensitive or discriminatory language.

Twitter frequently comes under fire for allowing neo-Nazis to use their site without being banned.

Which is why people are unsurprised by the news.

Twitter say they have now rectified the issue.

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