Merck Asks Social Media Companies to do as Much as They Can to Stop Hate Speech, Racism and Discrimination; Merck to Stop Advertising on Facebook and Instagram, Assess Responses from Facebook and Monitor Actions

July 2, 2020 5:00 pm EDT

KENILWORTH, N.J. July 2, 2020 – Merck embraces our responsibility to be a force for good in the world – both through our medicines and vaccines, and through our broader actions to address inequities and to create an environment where all people are valued and respected. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to the way Merck operates and to our mission to save and improve lives.

As a company, we are committed to stopping hate speech, racism and discrimination wherever we can. As part of that commitment, we are calling on social media companies to do as much as they can to stop hate speech, racism and discrimination, and to create social media platforms that encourage sharing of accurate information. We have decided to stop our advertising on Facebook and Instagram. We are assessing the responses from Facebook and will be monitoring the actions they take, and we will do the same across other media platforms.

Merck will continue to be a leader in advocating for diversity and inclusion and for advancing equity in our communities. Our mission to save and improve lives demands nothing less.

Media Contacts
Patrick Ryan
(201) 452-2409