In a chilling testimony to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, Bondi Beach terror attack survivor Arsen Ostrovsky recounted the rapid escalation of online hate following the tragic events of December 14, 2025. Just hours after the attack, digitally manipulated images emerged, portraying Ostrovsky as a grotesque caricature—a survivor adorned with an Academy Award and blood, which spread “like wildfire” across various social media platforms.
The inquiry has entered its third hearing block, with a focus on the proliferation of hate speech both online and in traditional media. This session comes in the wake of a horrific attack that claimed the lives of 15 individuals in Sydney.
Warning: This story contains graphic images of a person with bloody physical injuries.
Ostrovsky described the surreal experience of being in a hospital bed while witnessing the torrents of abuse and distorted imagery directed at him. “There were messages of solidarity, but there was almost immediately an influx of hate, of abuse, of vilification, of AI manipulation,” he stated, referring to the comments labeling him a “trauma tourist” and accusing him of participating in a “false flag attack.”
One particularly alarming example included an AI-generated image portraying him laughing while someone painted his face red, coinciding with the time he was being prepared for surgery. Ostrovsky lamented, “It was impossible to block it out… it tries to completely erase my experience and my trauma.”
Survivor’s Plight
Despite his substantial following on social media, Ostrovsky expressed feeling overwhelmed by the relentless nature of the online abuse, describing it as “a cesspool of Jew hatred.” The Royal Commission also heard from prominent businessman Steven Lowy, who shared similar experiences, noting that his family had been subjected to extensive antisemitic vitriol. Lowy’s security detail has captured over 15,000 instances of online abuse against his family alone.
Lowy detailed that some comments directed at his family were particularly disturbing, including those calling for the “public execution” of his father, Holocaust survivor Frank Lowy. “Online threats lead to or inspire others to commit violent acts,” he warned.
The Struggle for Content Removal
An anonymous Jewish mother provided insight into the challenges of removing antisemitic content online, recounting a harrowing incident involving her daughter. A video posted on TikTok included a photo of her child alongside abusive words that circumvented standard moderation filters. “The eSafety Commissioner said there was little they could do once the video was removed,” she lamented.
Moreover, an Israeli-Australian father described the alarming nature of the bullying his son faced on Discord, highlighting threats of violence that were particularly shocking. He reported the incidents to his son’s school but noted that despite measures taken, the bullying persisted.
Response from Social Media Platforms
In light of these testimonies, US-based social media platform Gab Social has come under fire for its dismissive approach towards the inquiry. Andrew Torba, the platform’s founder, stated it remains “openly hostile” in its communications with the commission, arguing the Australian government has “declared war on free speech.”
Several social media platforms, including Meta and TikTok, have been instructed to appear before the commission. However, both X Corp and Telegram have reportedly not responded to the inquiry’s requests.
A Call for Accountability
The Royal Commission has received over 20,000 submissions, with a mandate to deliver its final report by the anniversary of the attack. As online hate continues to fester, the testimonies presented reveal a disturbing trend of rising antisemitism fueled by unchecked digital platforms.
The inquiry underscores the urgent need for social media companies to take responsibility for the harmful content that proliferates on their platforms and protect vulnerable individuals from the scourge of online hate. For more detailed insights, you can check the original report on ABC News.
