Australia is confronting an unprecedented surge in online hate speech, particularly targeting the Jewish community, as revealed by the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. In its third week of public hearings, the inquiry delved into the severity of online hate speech and the challenges in regulating and policing online platforms.
Prominent Jewish community leaders shared their harrowing experiences of online abuse. Sarah Schwartz, director of the Jewish Council of Australia, recounted being labeled a "traitor" for her pro-Palestinian advocacy. She criticized the political manipulation of the Bondi shooting, which scapegoated Palestinian and Muslim communities, sending a harmful message to these groups. (, to remove gruesome footage of the Bondi massacre. Inman Grant criticized the platforms' reluctance to remove harmful content, citing the influence of anti-regulation governments like the United States.
Research presented to the inquiry highlighted the link between real-world incidents and online hate. A report from the Tackling Hate Lab at Deakin University found that anti-Jewish hate increased online both after the October 7, 2023, incident and the Bondi Beach terror attack in December. The report emphasized that real-world violence targeting Jews reinforces a "spiral of hate" online.
The inquiry also addressed the role of social media platforms in perpetuating hate speech. Experts criticized platforms like X for their inadequate response to antisemitic content. The Online Hate Prevention Institute reported that X removed only 24% of flagged antisemitic posts, highlighting the need for more effective moderation.
The Royal Commission continues to investigate the extent of online hate speech and its impact on the Jewish community, aiming to develop strategies to combat this growing issue.