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Platformer, a tech newsletter by Casey Newton, is leaving Substack due to concerns about the platform's policies and response to pro-Nazi publications.
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Newton identified seven Substack publications supporting 1930s German Nazis and advocating violence against Jews, prompting the removal of one and five others by the platform.
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The co-founders of Substack requested off-the-record conversations but later leaked those discussions to another publication, adding to the controversy.
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The issue escalated when The Atlantic reported that Substack was hosting and profiting from pro-Nazi content, leading over 200 Substack writers to pen an open letter seeking clarification.
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On December 21st, Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie stated that the platform would not remove or demonetize Nazi content, a decision that prompted Newton to consider leaving Substack.
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Newton observed that major US consumer internet platforms typically explicitly ban praise for Nazi hate speech, unlike Substack.
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The Platformer community supported the decision to leave Substack, leading to the migration of the newsletter to the Ghost platform.
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Newton assured readers that they wouldn't need to take any action to continue receiving Platformer, and the migration to Ghost is expected to be seamless.
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Despite the controversy, Substack did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the situation.
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The Atlantic's article and the subsequent open letter from Substack writers contributed to the building tension over the past several weeks.
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Substack's stance on not removing or demonetizing Nazi content was a pivotal moment that influenced Newton's decision to move Platformer to a different platform.
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The transition to Ghost is scheduled to take place after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, with the Tuesday edition of Platformer expected to be delivered as usual if all goes well.