Meta paid controversial creators through Facebook monetization program

An investigation by ABC News has revealed that Meta has been paying controversial Australian creators through its invitation-only Facebook Content Monetization program. The program, which reportedly paid nearly $3 billion to approximately 16.2 million accounts in 2025, has enabled individuals and groups associated with extremist views to earn revenue.

Identified recipients include Hugo Lennon, a far-right agitator and white nationalist with ties to neo-Nazi groups, who has received payments since September 2025. The investigation also found that the Facebook page for the white supremacist website "The Noticer" had been generating revenue since November 2025, despite being banned from X for violating hate speech policies.

Additionally, Monica Smit, founder of the anti-lockdown group Reignite Democracy Australia, was identified as receiving payments. Her page has previously featured vaccine misinformation. These findings have led to renewed scrutiny regarding Meta's ability to enforce its own monetization policies, which are intended to restrict revenue from content involving hate speech, misleading medical information, and other controversial social issues.