An investigation by Australia’s ABC News has found that Meta’s content monetization program paid revenue to accounts operated by far-right activists, neo-Nazis and conspiracy theorists, raising questions about how the tech giant enforces its own eligibility policies.

The ABC News Verify investigation, based on a public data archive maintained by the nonprofit What To Fix, identified several controversial accounts that reportedly received payments through Meta’s revenue-sharing program.

Among them was Hugo Lennon, an Australian far-right activist who has been photographed alongside self-described neo-Nazis. Lennon was recently removed by police in Melbourne after shouting racist abuse at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a visit to Australia. Video of the incident was posted to Lennon’s Facebook page, which the investigation said had been monetized since September 2025.

The investigation also found that extremist news site The Noticer began receiving Meta payments in November 2025. The outlet has reportedly been promoted within Australian neo-Nazi circles, while its account on X was previously suspended for violating the platform’s policies.

Other pages identified as receiving monetization payments included Anti-Immigration March for Australia and a page operated by activist Monica Smit, who has promoted conspiracy theories and medical misinformation.

Meta’s Content Monetization program allows approved creators and publishers to earn a share of advertising revenue generated by Reels, photos and other posts. In 2025, Meta reportedly distributed approximately $3 billion to some 16.2 million accounts worldwide.

The system rewards engagement, meaning content that generates large numbers of views, comments and interactions can produce higher earnings. Researchers have warned that this can create financial incentives for provocative or inflammatory material commonly known as “rage bait.”

According to Meta’s policies, certain racist content and medical misinformation are not supposed to qualify for advertising revenue. However, the ABC investigation found accounts that apparently continued generating income despite posting material that raised questions under those rules.

Meta said it maintains clear policies governing monetization and that violations can result in penalties or account suspensions. The company also said distinctions must be made between offensive expression and content that contributes to real-world violence.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)