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Substack Profited From Paid Nazi and Holocaust Denial Newsletters, Investigation Finds

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An investigation by The Guardian found that the online publishing platform Substack generated revenue from subscription-based newsletters promoting Nazi ideology and antisemitic conspiracy theories.

One newsletter identified in the report, “NatSocToday,” referenced National Socialism in its name and description. It reportedly charged $80 per year and described itself as “a newsletter featuring opinions and news important to the National Socialist and White Nationalist Community.”

According to the investigation, a recent post blamed Jews for the outbreak of World War II and described Nazi leader Adolf Hitler as “one of the greatest men of all time.”

Reporters also found that Substack’s recommendation system directed a newly-created account to 21 similar extremist profiles within two hours.

Substack’s moderation policy states that the platform cannot be used to publish or fund initiatives that incite violence against protected groups, including religion and ethnicity. While the newsletters cited in the investigation did not explicitly call for violence, they promoted Nazi ideology and Holocaust denial.

Substack did not respond to requests for comment from The Guardian.

Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie addressed the issue in a post on the platform. “I just want to make it clear that we don’t like Nazis either — we wish no one held those views,” he wrote. He argued that censorship, including demonetization, did not solve the problem of extremist beliefs.

A spokesperson for the UK-based Holocaust Educational Trust called it “a disgrace” that hateful material could generate revenue and receive algorithmic promotion.

When Nazi ideology becomes monetized and algorithmically amplified, digital platforms are no longer passive hosts — they are active participants in its reach.

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