James Harr, owner of ComradeWorkwear, faced systematic account removals across multiple platforms after announcing plans to sell a deck of satirical "Most Wanted CEO" playing cards in December 2024.
The cards, inspired by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency's 2003 Iraqi playing cards, aimed to critique corporate leadership through a deck featuring CEOs from various industries. Each card would include company information and QR codes linking to details about corporate practices.
Within 24 hours of Harr's announcement to his 100,000 social media followers, the New York Post published a front-page story calling the cards "disturbing." This was followed by a police visit to Harr's residence, though no illegal activity was identified.
Multiple platforms subsequently disabled both Harr's business and personal accounts. Instagram cited "not following community standards" without further explanation. TikTok referenced community guideline violations but provided no specific details. PayPal discontinued payment processing for ComradeWorkwear, while Shopify closed the store citing "offensive content."
The timing coincided with heightened platform moderation following the assassination of UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson. Though Harr's planned cards made no reference to the incident, platforms removed even innocuous content from users discussing the event.
Similar playing card concepts remain available on various platforms, including "Gaza's Most Wanted" and "Covid's Most Wanted" cards, highlighting inconsistent content moderation practices across social media and e-commerce platforms.
The case underscores ongoing debates about content moderation transparency, appeal processes, and the extent of platform control over online expression. Despite creating the cards as commentary on corporate influence, Harr found himself unable to maintain a presence on major digital platforms.