Adolf Hitler would have loved social media as a way of spreading hate, according to Disney’s chief executive Bob Iger.

“It’s the most powerful marketing tool an extremist could ever hope for,” he told an event organised by the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, a Jewish human rights organisation.

“By design social media reflects a narrow world view filtering out anything that challenges our beliefs while constantly validating our convictions and amplifying our deepest fears,” he added.

“Social media allows evil to prey on troubled minds and lost souls and we all know that social news feeds can contain more fiction than fact, propagating vile ideology that has no place in a civil society that values human life.”

He made the comments as he called on US politicians to “reject hate in all forms” in the run up to the 2020 presidential election.

Walt Disney’s Disneyland: A visual history Show all 7 1 /7 Walt Disney’s Disneyland: A visual history Walt Disney’s Disneyland: A visual history Walt Disney described his park on television in 1954 2018 Disney Enterprises, Inc Walt Disney’s Disneyland: A visual history The original Disneyland sign on Harbor Boulevard welcomed guests from 1958 to 1989. Its bold colors, shapes, and kinetic exuberance make it an icon of midcentury design Collection of Dave DeCaro, davelandweb.com Walt Disney’s Disneyland: A visual history The drawbridge to Sleeping Beauty Castle was lowered for the ﬁrst time on opening day, and only once since: when the redesigned Fantasyland opened on May 25, 1983. The castle sits at the center of Disneyland and is one of the world’s most recognizable structures, with spires that rise as high as 77 feet (about 24 m), but it wasn’t the ﬁrst concept Walt had in mind. A palace for Cinderella and a castle for Robin Hood were considered in the planning stages Getty/The LIFE Picture Collection Walt Disney’s Disneyland: A visual history In good company — Walt Disney is joined in 1964 by some of his most adored characters. Many starred in what Walt called “classic stories of everyone’s youth” that, in Fantasyland, had “become realities for youngsters of all ages to participate in.” Lawrence Schiller, Polaris Communications Inc Walt Disney’s Disneyland: A visual history The buildings of the Rainbow Ridge mining town were designed by art director and set designer Bill Martin, who recalled they were a favorite of the Disneys: “I remember that Walt and Lilly would often walk along the pathways between those little buildings when they stayed at the park overnight.” Although the attraction is long gone, the little town can still be seen in the queue to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Collection of Dave DeCaro, davelandweb.com Walt Disney’s Disneyland: A visual history Monstro the Whale, from Pinocchio, guards the entrance to the Storybook Land Canal Boats. His giant blinking eye and spouting blowhole sometimes surprised guests posing for photos 2018 Disney Enterprises, Inc Walt Disney’s Disneyland: A visual history Walt Disney’s Disneyland £ 40 Taschen

“Hate and anger are dragging us toward an abyss,” he said as he accepted a humanitarian award at the tribute dinner in Los Angeles, Variety magazine reported.

“In the last few years, we have been harshly reminded that hate takes many forms, sometimes disguising itself as more socially acceptable expression like fear or resentment or contempt. It is consuming our public discourse and shaping our country and culture into something that is wholly unrecognisable to those of us who still believe in civility, human rights and basic decency.”

Next week the Disney boss is due to co-host a 2020 fundraiser for Democratic candidates for the US Senate.

“I want to hear a pitch that isn’t grounded in contempt of others,” he said. “I want to see a vision big enough to include everyone.”

The company has previously been dogged by allegations that its founder Walt Disney was antisemitic.

Several early films feature stereotypes common in the 1930s​, including a Big Bad Wolf dressed as a Jewish peddler and Mickey Mouse dancing like a Hasidic Jew.

The late animator was linked to the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, an antisemitic organisation.

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Disney was also criticised for accepting a visit by Nazi filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl to Hollywood to promote her film Olympia in 1938.