A new revelation about the George Soros–funded Open Society Foundations (OSF) is now reportedly shedding light on just how far the left-wing philanthropy is willing to go in its global push for censorship.
According to OSF’s own grant database, the organization poured $250,000 last year into the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a UK-based nonprofit notorious for pressuring advertisers, investors, and tech companies to censor or financially cripple conservative outlets and platforms — including a documented campaign to “kill” Elon Musk’s X.
The CCDH, founded in 2018 by former Labour Party operative Imran Ahmed, presents itself as a watchdog combating “online hate and disinformation.” In practice, the group has aggressively targeted right-leaning media and platforms by demanding that tech companies demonetize or deplatform content it labels “racist,” “misleading,” or otherwise objectionable. Among the CCDH’s past campaigns: pressuring companies to pull ads from conservative outlets such as the Federalist and the Daily Wire.
The six-figure grant from Soros’s OSF — previously unreported — places new emphasis on the ongoing clash between Elon Musk, CCDH, and Soros himself. Musk has publicly accused Soros of “crimes against humanity” and financing groups tied to violent protests. He has also labeled the CCDH a “criminal organization,” vowing to pursue legal action against the donors funding its efforts to damage X financially.
Documents published by Racket News reveal that the CCDH quietly organized a campaign last year to “kill Musk’s Twitter,” coordinating pressure on advertisers to abandon the platform. The group has also engaged in extensive lobbying in Washington, meeting with 16 congressional offices amid Musk’s lawsuit against them and even holding “policy engagement” discussions with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). The organization has pushed US policymakers to establish an “independent digital regulator,” a move critics view as a pathway to government-enforced censorship.
Since Musk purchased Twitter in October 2022 and pledged to restore free speech on the platform, the CCDH has escalated its attacks. Musk sued the organization in July 2023 over claims in a CCDH report alleging a surge in hate speech on X under his ownership.
While the CCDH keeps its donor list secret, OSF’s grant helps answer critical questions raised by congressional investigators. In 2023, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) subpoenaed the CCDH for donor information as part of an inquiry into whether the group helped coordinate censorship efforts across social media companies. Additional tax filings show the Skoll Fund donated $415,000 to the CCDH in 2023, while the Silicon Valley Community Foundation funneled $403,175 to the group. Total CCDH revenue that year topped $2.1 million.
The grant disclosure surfaces at a time when the Trump administration is openly scrutinizing Soros’s influence campaigns. President Trump has called for investigations into George and Alex Soros over alleged funding of violent riots, allegations both have denied. Administration officials are also weighing visa revocation for CCDH chief Imran Ahmed, whom The Sunday Telegraph reports is “top of the list” for potential cancellations due to his role in international censorship initiatives.
The CCDH’s leadership has deep political ties. Ahmed cofounded the group with Morgan McSweeney, now chief of staff to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Reports that Starmer aides met with Kamala Harris campaign officials last summer sparked backlash from the Trump campaign, which accused them of election interference.
Meanwhile, CCDH’s targeting of conservative news sites continues. In 2020, the group pressured Google to ban ads from the Federalist and Zero Hedge over comments related to the George Floyd protests. In 2023, it issued a lengthy report criticizing Google for running Daily Wire ads tied to searches involving George Soros.
The newly exposed funding underscores the reach of Soros-backed efforts to shape—and silence—the digital public square.
[READ MORE: Chicago Man With Long Criminal Record Charged With Federal Terrorism After Woman Set Ablaze on CTA Train]
