Facebook Inc expressed its readiness for an audit of how it controls hate speech, Reuters reported.

The move cames because major advertisers like Unilever and Starbucks supported the Stop Hating For Profit campaign launched by US civil rights groups, which urges brands to pause Facebook ads in July in order to put pressure on the social media giant to do more to take down hate speech.

The Media Rating Council (MRC), a media measurement firm, will conduct an audit to evaluate how the social network protects advertisers 'from appearing next to harmful content and the accuracy of Facebook’s reporting in certain areas.'

The scope and timing of the audit are still being clarified.

Ford Motor Co and Coca-Cola are among the companies that said they would suspend ads on all social media platforms for at least 30 days.