The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has issued a sharp rebuke of X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, for its refusal to engage with the inquiry. Counsel assisting the commission, Richard Lancaster SC, described the company’s silence as a “shocking disregard” for the Australian community. The commission is currently examining how to better protect Australians from the spread of extremist and antisemitic material online.
During proceedings, the inquiry heard that X has been notably less cooperative than other social media platforms. Evidence presented by Dr. Andre Oboler of the Online Hate Prevention Institute suggested that X has become a significant contributor to online antisemitism, particularly since the platform downgraded its trust and safety functions under Mr. Musk’s leadership. The commission was told that X has failed to respond to any correspondence regarding these concerns.
Beyond its lack of engagement, X has faced scrutiny for its specific content policies. The platform previously argued against orders to remove graphic footage related to the Bondi terror attack, comparing the content to a gore movie. Mr. Lancaster noted that X further attempted to justify the presence of such material by citing Holocaust imagery, a move he labeled as extraordinary and deserving of condemnation.
As the commission continues its work, the question of X’s social licence to operate in Australia has been raised. While the platform maintains a commitment to unconstrained speech, the inquiry is weighing the public interest in safety against the company’s business model. The lack of transparency from X remains a central point of contention for regulators and community groups alike.