Archives: Press Releases

UltraViolet Slams Facebook for Forcing Fact-Checkers Not to Fact-Check Donald Trump, Allowing Users to Post Related Posts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, November 16, 2022
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com

UltraViolet Slams Facebook for Forcing Fact-Checkers Not to Fact-Check Donald Trump, Allowing Users to Post Related Posts

WASHINGTON, DC — According to reports of an internal memo leak yesterday from Meta, fact-checkers may not fact-check Donald Trump. While Trump is currently banned from Facebook, the fact-check ban will apply to anything Trump says, including false statements, which can be posted to the platform by other users.
The memo established that if Trump did announce a 2024 presidential bid yesterday night, he could no longer be fact-checked on the platform.
Trump has not been allowed to post on his Facebook and Instagram accounts since the days following the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Meta is considering allowing Trump back on the platform as soon as January 2023.

In response, Bridget Todd, communications director from UltraViolet, a national gender equity group and leading anti-disinformation advocate, issued the following statement:

“Meta forcing fact-checkers to ignore Donald Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and other right-wing extremists’ lies is nothing new. Considering Facebook’s sketchy history of fact checking Donald Trump and other right-wing politicians, or lack thereof, the contents of this memo are hardly a surprise.

“Facebook didn’t deplatform Donald Trump until after he incited a violent and deadly insurrection in 2021. When Trump was on Facebook, he consistently posted lies, many rooted in racist, sexist disinformation, without incident.

“Let’s be clear, Meta is not bending its rules for Trump or right-wing radicals on Facebook — this is business as usual. Facebook generates profits from reposts and clicks, regardless of whether they contain valid facts or not.

“Meta needs to hold all politicians to the same fact-checking standards as regular users. “

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Women’s Group Says Attack on Pelosi “Did Not Come Out of Nowhere,” Blames Violent & Misogynist Rhetoric from GOP & Fox News, Amplified by Social Platforms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 28, 2022
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com

Women’s Group Says Attack on Pelosi “Did Not Come Out of Nowhere,” Blames Violent & Misogynist Rhetoric from GOP & Fox News, Amplified by Social Platforms

Women’s Disinformation Defense Project Responds to Attack Against Paul Pelosi, Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Husband

Earlier today, reports broke that Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was violently attacked after an assailant forcibly entered their home in San Francisco, California, looking for the Speaker.

The following statement from Shaunna Thomas, co-founder and executive director of UltraViolet, was released on behalf of the Women’s Disinformation Defense Project:

“The home invasion and brutal attack against Paul Pelosi, the husband of Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, did not come out of nowhere.

“For years, Republicans have fed lies through right wing media outlets like Fox News demonizing Speaker Pelosi, lying about her political record, and positioning her as a threat to Republican voters and supporters.

“This isn’t just about policy disagreements on Capitol Hill. Republicans paint anyone who opposes their agenda as enemies of America, with an increased reliance on violent and misogynistic rhetoric to galvanize their base. What’s worse is that social media platforms have allowed these attacks to metastasize online and create an echo chamber that both radicalizes its consumers and desensitizes them to violence.

“We are grateful that Speaker Pelosi is safe, and that her husband Paul Pelosi is expected to make a full recovery, but let’s be clear: This wasn’t a random or isolated act of violence.

“The attack on Paul Pelosi should be a wakeup call — the people and institutions responsible must take responsibility and stop this violence.”

According to CNN, the man who attacked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband early Friday posted memes and conspiracy theories on Facebook about Covid-19 vaccines, the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 attack.

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UltraViolet Responds to Elon Musk’s $44 Billion Twitter Takeover

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 28, 2022
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com

UltraViolet Responds to Elon Musk’s $44 Billion Twitter Takeover

Leading gender equity & anti-disinformation group warns Musk’s acquisition of Twitter will increase harassment, violent threats against women, BIPOC communities, and LGBTQ+ people

Moments ago, Elon Musk finalized a deal to purchase Twitter for $44 billion. Today was the final opportunity for Musk to make the acquisition or face trial for breach of contract with the social media platform.

In response, Bridget Todd, communications director at UltraViolet, a leading national gender equity and anti-disinformation organization, issued the following statement:

“At a time where violent threats, hate speech, and disinformation are continuing to spread rapidly across social media platforms, despite their best efforts to state the contrary with bogus ads, it’s clear that billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerburg are just getting started. Musk has commented on the record that he does not believe any Twitter posts, however factually inaccurate, violent or inflammatory, should be prohibited on Twitter, so long as they are ‘legal.’ His acquisition of Twitter just opened Pandora’s box.

“By purchasing Twitter, Elon Musk is poised to reopen the floodgates of widespread harassment and threats of violence, especially against Black women, women of color, and transgender people.

“We believe Musk will abandon Twitter’s community standards, which took years to establish, and currently provide recourse to ban users who violate those terms. This is a massively slippery slope that could set a dangerous precedent for other social media platforms to follow suit.

“We urge Musk, Twitter executives, the Board of Directors, and Twitter advertisers to continue enforcing a ban on Donald Trump as well as violent right-wing extremists and white supremacists. Additionally, we will continue to demand more vigilance about removing racist and misogynistic disinformation and those who knowingly spread it.

“Absent urgent action from Congress, social media platforms will continue to pose a danger to the American people and our democracy. With Elon Musk at the helm of Twitter just two weeks ahead of the midterm elections, it’s likely the worst is yet to come.”

Earlier this year, UltraViolet released a report card assigning letter grades to social media platforms such as Facebook/Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, and Twitter. Each platform is graded based on current hate speech policies and processes, including the removal of disinformation, threats of violence, white nationalist content, and discrimination based on gender identity, race, and sexual orientation. In 2021, Twitter began beta-testing a COVID-19 reporting function and removed bad actors from the platform, including Donald Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene, in response to UltraViolet’s demands.

VIEW THE REPORT HERE: https://weareuv.us/feministnetreport
VIEW THE REPORT CARD HERE: https://weareuv.us/reportcard

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Women’s Disinformation Defense Project Announces $5 Million Initiative to Support Women Political Candidates Through Midterm Elections

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, October 6, 2022
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com

Women’s Disinformation Defense Project Announces $5 Million Initiative to Support Women Political Candidates Through Midterm Elections

Women’s Disinformation Defense Project launches 2022 midterm election initiative with media tracking, social media platform accountability, disinformation training and resources for local advocacy groups

Women’s Disinformation Defense Project will focus heavily on elections in Nevada, North Carolina, Michigan, & Florida

WASHINGTON, DC — The Women’s Disinformation Defense Project (WDDP), a coalition of gender and racial justice groups led by UltraViolet, in partnership with A—B, EMILY’s List Action, Higher Heights for America, Kairos, The League, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Planned Parenthood Votes, and Women’s March, will begin a new campaign to combat disinformation and fend off racist or sexist attacks against women running for office in the 2022 midterm elections. The initiative entails at least $5 million for programs such as media tracking, ad campaigns, platform accountability, disinformation training, and resources for local advocacy groups through election day on November 8th.

Specifically, WDDP is focusing heavily on elections in Nevada, North Carolina, Michigan, and Florida, supporting women candidates against disinformation attacks, holding media outlets and social media platforms accountable for proliferating disinformation, and working to encourage voter turnout in support of the following candidates:

Catherine Cortez Masto (U.S. Senate), Lisa Cano Burkhead (Lt. Gov), and Ellen Spiegel (Comptroller) in Nevada
Cheri Beasley (U.S. Senate) in North Carolina
Gretchen Whitmer (Governor), Jocelyn Benson (Secretary of State), and Dana Nessel (Attorney General) in Michigan.
Val Demings (U.S. Senate) in Florida

With the overarching goals of protecting women candidates and voters in key states from the harms of disinformation and increasing turnout of women voters, WDDP is also engaging in rapid response mobilization, disinformation training, and polling in key states around the impacts of disinformation attack on candidates and the most effective counter narratives.

“Hundreds of women are running for political office across the country, including a record number of Black women running for Congress, governor and mayor. With midterms in close sight, it’s critically important to foster a political environment where women can safely participate in our democracy as candidates and voters,” said Bridget Todd, Director of Communications for UltraViolet. “Given that, media outlets and social media platforms have a responsibility to stop the spread of racist and sexist disinformation. This issue transcends political party lines. Political candidates will not have a fair chance to state their case to voters if platforms do not proactively remove content that intentionally misinforms the general public.”
Earlier this year, UltraViolet and the WDDP launched a national initiative dedicated to securing Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation to the Supreme Court, including an updated media guide detailing how news outlets should cover Justice Jackson as a nominee.
VIEW THE GUIDE HERE: https://weareuv.us/mediaguide2022
In efforts to combat racist and sexist attacks against Justice Jackson, and to stop proliferation of disinformation against her online, UltraViolet also trained over 200 progressive activists about responding to disinformation attacks against Justice Jackson and distributed content to over 100 partner organizations countering right-wing narratives opposing Jackson’s confirmation.
Additionally, the coalition addressed news division heads, editors, bureau chiefs, and reporters in an open letter from 70 organizations, urging that news coverage of Justice Jackson should adhere to standards outlined in the media guide.

VIEW THE LETTER HERE: https://weareultraviolet.org/wp-content/up
In 2020, UltraViolet Action organized efforts to prevent the spread of racist and sexist disinformation targeting women candidates and voters. Initially designed to defend Vice President Kamala Harris and other women and women of color running for office, this work included:
Media accountability campaigns focused on de-platforming those that perpetuated racist and sexist disinformation, including the publication of a comprehensive media guide on how the media can cover women politicians and people of color in politics.
Calls to the DNC to block all Democratic presidential candidates with active non-disclosure agreements for sexual harassment and workplace abuse on debate.
Holding social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter accountable for the spread of racist and sexist disinformation, as well as the promotion of right-wing violence and QAnon conspiracy theories.
Popularizing the reality of disinformation attacks for voters and countering disinformation with positive messages to low propensity voters in battleground states. This included running a six figure ad buy in English and Spanish targeting young, Black, and Latina voters with turnout and pro-Biden content.

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BREAKING: Musk Offers to Buy Twitter at Original Deal Price; Women’s Group Says Threats of Violence and Harassment Online Will Likely Skyrocket If Deal Goes Through

BREAKING: Musk Offers to Buy Twitter at Original Deal Price; Women’s Group Says Threats of Violence and Harassment Online Will Likely Skyrocket If Deal Goes Through

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 4, 2022
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com

UltraViolet Says Elon Musk’s Plan to Buy Twitter Would Increase Harassment and Violent Threats Towards Women Online

Statement from Bridget Todd, communications director at UltraViolet, on reports that Elon Musk has offered to buy Twitter at the original deal price:

“Get ready. Elon Musk is about to rip open Pandora’s box and flood the internet once again with hate, misogyny, racism and conspiracy theories.

“If this deal goes through, Twitter will become an even more dangerous place for women, threats of violence online against Black women and women of color will skyrocket, and anti-trans content will take hold of user feeds. Donald Trump will be replatformed and he will use his account to spread conspiracy theories and promote political violence.

“We should all be terrified.”

Earlier this year, UltraViolet released a report card assigning letter grades to social media platforms such as Facebook/Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, and Twitter. Each platform is graded based on current hate speech policies and processes, including the removal of disinformation, threats of violence, white nationalist content, and discrimination based on gender identity, race, and sexual orientation.

As a result of UltraViolet’s campaigning, Twitter began beta-testing a COVID-19 reporting function and removed bad actors from the platform, including Donald Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

VIEW THE REPORT HERE: https://weareuv.us/feministnetreport
VIEW THE REPORT CARD HERE: https://weareuv.us/reportcard

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UltraViolet Slams National Women’s Soccer League for Turning a Blind Eye to Sexual Abuse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, October 3, 2022
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com

UltraViolet Slams National Women’s Soccer League for Turning a Blind Eye to Sexual Abuse

UltraViolet urges further investigations into youth soccer programs, NWSL coaches, and league executives who ignored players seeking help

Earlier today, an investigative report commissioned by the United States Soccer Federation exposed rampant sexual misconduct, verbal abuse and emotional abuse by coaches in the National Women’s Soccer League.

In response, Bridget Todd, director of communications at UltraViolet, a leading national gender advocacy organization, issued the following statement:

“The findings from today’s investigatory report are both infuriating and disturbing. From women players being groomed and sexually abused by coaches, to the willful ignorance and inaction from league officials in response to reports of the abuse, the NWSL is failing women and girls across the country.

“Based on the reports findings, one of the main reasons sexual and emotional abuse is so rampant at the pro level in women’s soccer is because this toxicity begins in youth soccer. Many players are actually conditioned to expect toxic behavior and abuse before going pro. The implications of this harrowing reality, and the callously indifferent response from NWSL league officials and owners, are beyond measure.

“To be clear, given the report’s findings, we are skeptical of NWSL’s response, including claims they plan to implement some of the investigatory report’s recommendations. After years of covering up rampant sexual abuse, we are unsure US Soccer will do anything meaningful to address the insidious roots of these problems. While abuse in women’s soccer runs deeper than the NWSL, and will not be eliminated through changes in the NWSL alone, reform has to start somewhere.

“We now know that abusive coaches moved from team to team, with owners and league executives sanctioning PR stunts thanking these same coaches for their service. All the while, players with direct experience and knowledge of sexually abusive coaches’ misconduct were forced into silence. According to the report, NWSL and U.S. Soccer officials, as well as individual team owners and executives, were repeatedly made aware of complaints of inappropriate behavior but did nothing. This is completely unacceptable.

“We demand an investigation into youth soccer and further investigation into the NWSL officials, U.S. Soccer officials, individual team owners and executives who ignored the many players who cried for help . This kind of behavior is beyond the scope of unacceptable.”

“From fighting for equal pay to demanding accountability for abusers, we stand in solidarity with the players of the National Women’s Soccer League.”

In 2015, UltraViolet pressured FIFA to close the pay gap after the 2015 Women’s World Cup champions netted only $2 million for their win, while the winners of the 2014 men’s World Cup netted $35 million. In contrast, the US men’s team was awarded a whopping $8 million prize after losing in the Round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup. As part of the effort, more than 72,000 UltraViolet members signed onto a petition urging FIFA demanding equal pay for the
US Women’s National soccer team.

VIEW THE PETITION HERE: http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/fifa_women/

In 2019, UltraViolet targeted US Soccer demanding they enact an equal pay policy for men and women. Not long after, UltraViolet and members organized a petition delivery at US Soccer headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.

VIEW THE PETITION HERE: https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/us_soccer_equal_pay/

Earlier this year, UltraViolet resurfaced a TV ad from 2016 Olympics calling for the United States women’s soccer team to receive equal pay:

VIEW THE AD HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNRyHbbaeRM&feature=youtu.be
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UltraViolet Criticizes Republicans in Congress for Party’s Extremist Anti-Abortion Agenda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 23, 2022
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com

UltraViolet Criticizes Republicans in Congress for Party’s Extremist Anti-Abortion Agenda

Ultraviolet slams Rep. Kevin McCarthy for avoidance of abortion at press conference detailing GOP’s political agenda ahead of midterm elections

WASHINGTON, DC — Earlier today, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) held a press conference describing the Republican party’s priorities ahead of the midterm elections. While McCarthy did not disclose Republican plans pertaining to abortion ban legislation, he openly promotes a national abortion ban in the “government accountability” section of his website.

In response, Shaunna Thomas, executive director of UltraViolet, a national gender justice advocacy group, issued the following statement:

“Rep. McCarthy avoided mentioning abortion during his press conference today — and for good reason. Rep. McCarthy and the GOP know that their goal to ban abortion is wildly unpopular and out of touch with the American electorate on both sides of the political spectrum.

“As midterm elections approach, we’re seeing more and more GOP candidates sheepishly sweep their extremist views on abortion under the rug. Their agenda has always been clear, though: ban abortion in every single state. And they’re not stopping there. Republicans are also clear about their intentions to cut social security and block an assault weapons ban. At this point, we know exactly what to expect from the GOP and should not be surprised by their dangerous, extremist policies.

“If the proposed national abortion ban in the Senate indicates anything, it’s that Republicans in Congress will stop at nothing to control our bodies and healthcare decisions.

“The GOP’s main political strategy is staying in power by waging war on women and families, denying our rights and dismantling our democracy in the process. Republicans see the power of women, especially women of color, Black women, and Indigenous women, and are doing everything in their power to stop us from organizing, mobilizing and voting against their platform.

“We are fighting back with the majority of Americans who want to protect our freedoms and investments in our communities that allow everyone to thrive. Republicans are the nation’s biggest threat to building this better, safer, and healthier way of life.

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UltraViolet Says Corporate Donations to Anti-Choice Politicians Made National Fifteen Week Abortion Ban Bill Possible

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, September 14, 2022
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com 

UltraViolet Says Corporate Donations to Anti-Choice Politicians Made National Fifteen Week Abortion Ban Bill Possible

New Senate bill would ban most abortions after fifteen weeks nationwide

Yesterday, Senator Lindsay Graham introduced a National bill that would ban abortion after 15 weeks using an unproven claim that fetuses can feel pain at that stage in a pregnancy.

In response, Sonja Spoo, Political Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy at UltraViolet, a national gender justice organization, issued the following statement:

“This bill is a vivid reminder that the Republican Party’s national priority is to impose its radical anti-woman, anti-family agenda on all Americans–brought to you by corporate America.

“After working for decades to hijack our Courts and impose draconian restrictions on women and pregnant people across the country, the GOP doesn’t think that they’ve gone far enough. The corporations who finance their political campaigns made everything from this legislation, to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and statewide abortion bans and restrictions in dozens of states possible.  In our view, these companies are equally to blame.

“For AT&T, Google, Comcast, General Motors, and many more, funding political campaigns for anti-abortion candidates is ‘business as usual,’  but the American people know this practice is unacceptable. Shame on these corporations.”

Earlier this year, UltraViolet released a report and website detailing how political campaign spending from 111 of America’s largest companies heavily supports anti-abortion politicians who favor abortion bans in 26 states The report shows where corporate donations and corporate PACs most prominently support anti-choice politicians, how much they spend per state, and how concerned citizens can become civically involved. The report is the latest addition to UltraViolet’s Repro Receipts campaign.

VIEW THE WEBSITE HERE: https://reproreceipts.com 

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UltraViolet Says New Consumer Notices on Google Maps for Fake Abortion Clinics is “Productive First Step,” But More Action Needed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, August 29, 2022
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com

UltraViolet Says New Consumer Notices on Google Maps for Fake Abortion Clinics is “Productive First Step,” But More Action Needed

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — Last week, Google announced that its “search” and “map” functions will start including consumer notices that fake abortion clinics and crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) “might not provide abortions.”

Google’s decision comes after consumer review website Yelp’s decision to differentiate crisis pregnancy centers from abortion clinics notifying users that CPCs “typically provide limited medical services and may not have licensed medical professionals onsite.”

In response, Shaunna Thomas, executive director of UltraViolet, a national gender justice organization, issued the following statement:

“After months of public pressure from abortion rights groups and advocacy organizations like UltraViolet, Google has finally decided to flag that phony abortion clinics and crisis pregnancy centers ‘may not’ provide abortions. While this is a productive first step, it’s clear more action is needed.

“Google needs to stop profiting from and running ads for fake clinics once and for all, and to stop populating fake clinics and crisis pregnancy centers on its search functions for people seeking abortion care or reproductive health services.  Advertisements that spread disinformation about reproductive healthcare, including coercive tactics that restrict patients from accessing abortion, is exacerbating the public health crisis that that has only grown since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June.  

“Tech giants like Google have the power and responsibility to inform their users with medically accurate information. We can recognize this is progress”

 Since 2015, UltraViolet has helped lead efforts authoring coalition letters, running ads, hosting petitions, and spearheading organizing efforts to urge that Google remove CPC and fake abortion clinic ads from its search engine.

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UltraViolet on Hulu Reversing It’s Ad Policy to Allow Ads on Abortion and Gun Control 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, July 27, 2022
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com 

UltraViolet on Hulu Reversing It’s Ad Policy to Allow Ads on Abortion and Gun Control 

Gender Justice Group Celebrates Hulu’s Reversal Saying Abortion and Gun Control Are Not Controversial Issues; Warns Platform Against Accepting Ads With Misinformation or Disinformation About Topics 

In reaction to Hulu announcing that it has reversed its ad policy and will now allow ads on the platform that discuss abortion and gun control, Shaunna Thomas, co-founder and executive director of UltraViolet, a leading national gender justice organization, issued the following statement: 

“Disney’s decision to allow political advertisements that reference abortion and gun control on Hulu’s ad platofrm is the right decision, and it shouldn’t have taken public pressure from activists to get there.

“Abortion and gun control are not controversial issues that Disney and Hulu claim they are. The overwhelming majority of Americans support access to abortion (85 percent believe it should be legal in some or all circumstances) and common sense gun safety reforms (nearly 68 percent back stricter gun laws). Accurate and accessible advertisements related to abortion care is critical to ensuring the public health and safety of viewers and can help limit the spread of dangerous disinformation. 

“But Disney and Hulu must make sure this change in policy does not become a tool for bad actors to run ads spreading dangerous medical disinformation about abortion. We need Hulu to lay out a clear policy that allows discussion of these topics, but limits that discussion to factual, real information that benefits its viewers.”

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