Hootsuite partner cuts ties over ICE contract

Witness Change, a non-profit based in Atlanta, Georgia, has cut ties with Hootsuite over the company’s work for the United States Department of Homeland Security, specifically its provision of social media services to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). 

The non-profit “had no idea” about Hootsuite’s ICE contract, Witness Change Director Robin Hammond told Vancity Lookout by email. 

“We have urgently contacted Hootsuite, told them that we can no longer collaborate with them/accept any support, and have demanded that any association with our non-profit be removed from their site,” Hammond said. 

“We respect Witness Change’s request and are working with them directly on this matter,” a Hootsuite spokesperson said in a brief response to questions from Vancity Lookout. 

Witness Change is a non-profit organization that works to end human rights violations for marginalized communities through storytelling. “We exist to support marginalized groups, which is in direct conflict with the abuses being carried out by the Department of Homeland Security today,” Hammond added. 

When the groups partnered in 2021, Hootsuite said in a press release that the campaign would “bring heart and humanity to refugee stories,” emphasizing how Hootsuite’s social media tools “can play a critical role in amplifying the messages of underrepresented groups.” As of February 5, Hootsuite had removed that press release and mention of its partnership with Witness Change from its website.

Vancity Lookout also learned that, as of June 2021, Hootsuite no longer holds a B Corporation certification. Hootsuite had been a registered B Corp – a certification program that requires companies to prevent and mitigate their involvement in negative human rights impacts, among other standards – since 2015.

“B Lab does not comment on companies that are no longer in the community,” a spokesperson for B Lab said in response to questions about why Hootsuite’s certification lapsed. 

Hootsuite’s headquarters in Mount Pleasant was the site of a large protest last Friday, attended by approximately 500-600 people, organizers said. Attendees included BC Green Party leader Emily Lowan and COPE councillor Sean Orr. 

“We heard from so many people who are just outraged that there is local support for ICE and the Trump administration,” Kalifi Ferretti-Gallon, co-founder of Democracy Rising, the group that organized the protest, told Vancity Lookout. 

“There were a lot of people [at the protest] who, I think, really want to express how they're feeling, but aren't necessarily able to find the right group or community to share their outrage,” until now, she added. 

Ferretti-Gallon said Democracy Rising is continuing to organize against Hootsuite’s work for ICE by urging Canadian companies that use Hootsuite services to find a different provider, and creating a list of alternative tools people and organizations can use instead of Hootsuite.

The group also plans to hold another protest outside Hootsuite’s headquarters on Saturday, February 21. 

We rely on readers like you sharing these stories to help others discover our journalism. Share today: Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | Bluesky | Copy this url