Report details link between attacks on Jews and online 'spikes of hate'

Lead

Australia's Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has turned its attention to the role of online platforms in spreading hate speech, hearing testimony that real-world attacks on the Jewish community have fueled a "spiral of hate" online. The inquiry, which began earlier this year after a terror attack in Sydney's Bondi Beach left 15 people dead, is examining the spread of hate speech both online and in traditional media.

Coverage Comparison

ABC Australia reported extensively on the royal commission's hearings, focusing on the experiences of survivors and the findings of academic research. The broadcaster detailed testimony from Arsen Ostrovsky, a survivor of the Bondi Beach attack, who described the immediate influx of online hate and manipulated images he faced after sharing a photo of his injuries. ABC Australia also covered the testimony of Gab Social CEO Andrew Torba, who said his platform would not comply with the commission's requests for information, citing free speech concerns.

The South China Morning Post also covered the inquiry, focusing on the testimony of Google executive Rachel Lord. The Post reported that Lord told the inquiry that a video falsely claiming Ostrovsky was a "crisis actor" met YouTube's standards and would remain online. The Post's coverage highlighted the platform's decision-making process, noting that the decision had been reviewed at "quite senior levels."

Both outlets reported on YouTube's decision to keep the video online, with ABC Australia quoting Ostrovsky expressing outrage and criticizing the company's position as "simply inexplicable." The Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Peter Wertheim also criticized YouTube's decision, according to ABC Australia.

Key Claims

• The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is investigating the spread of hate speech online and in traditional media, with a particular focus on antisemitism. (Reported by ABC Australia and South China Morning Post)

• Arsen Ostrovsky, a survivor of the Bondi Beach terror attack, experienced online hate and harassment after sharing an image of his injuries on social media. He told the commission that offensive comments and manipulated images appeared almost immediately, including claims that he was a "trauma tourist" or an actor in a "false flag attack." (Reported by ABC Australia)

• YouTube decided to keep a video on its platform that suggested Ostrovsky lied about his injuries, despite complaints that it breached hate speech policies. Google executive Rachel Lord testified that the video had been "reviewed at quite senior levels" and did not breach the company's community guidelines. (Reported by ABC Australia and South China Morning Post)

• Gab Social CEO Andrew Torba stated that his company would not comply with the royal commission's requests for information, citing free speech concerns. He accused the Australian government of having "declared war on free speech." (Reported by ABC Australia)

• A report by the Tackling Hate Lab at Deakin University found that online anti-Jewish hate increased sharply and persistently after October 7, 2023. The report, which mapped online hate in Australia between October 2021 and March 2026, also found that the Bondi Beach attack generated a further, smaller short-term increase in online hate. (Reported by ABC Australia)

• The report also determined that real-world violent incidents targeting the Jewish community can fuel online hate and conspiracy theories. It found that, on average, a physical act of violence offline led to an increase of about 3.4 anti-Jewish posts on X above the baseline level over the following 24 hours. The report suggested that media coverage of such incidents creates opportunities for those with antisemitic attitudes to express their views online. (Reported by ABC Australia)

• Moonshot, an organization that directs people away from violent and extremist content online, uses pop-ups and landing pages to provide support services to those who engage with such content. This was mentioned in testimony at the commission, as reported by ABC Australia.

• Google executive Rachel Lord testified that YouTube's decision to keep the video suggesting Ostrovsky was a crisis actor was reviewed at senior levels and met the platform's standards. Lord told the inquiry that YouTube had "spent a lot of time thinking about where we draw the line" and continued to re-evaluate its policies. (Reported by ABC Australia and South China Morning Post)