Distressing footage of violent attacks has been spread on X (formerly Twitter) despite repeated requests from Australia's eSafety Commissioner to have it removed, sparking concerns that mainstream social media platforms are prioritising profit over users' safety. Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety Commissioner, revealed in evidence to a royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion that her office has had to challenge X repeatedly to restrict or delete graphic content.
Ms Inman Grant specifically cited instances where X resisted content removal requests, including footage related to the Bondi terror attack, the Charlie Kirk assassination video, and the stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte train. She noted that when her office pushed for the Bondi attack footage to be removed, X argued it was 'no worse than in a gore movie', a claim she disputed as causing profound distress to family members and the Australian Jewish community.
The Commissioner expressed concern that social media companies are shifting resources away from their 'trust and safety' teams while simultaneously challenging regulatory efforts. This trend is seen as emboldened by an anti-regulation stance from governments such as the Trump administration, raising questions about platforms' genuine commitment to combating harmful content.
Ms Inman Grant highlighted that only a small fraction (2%) of adult cyber-abuse complaints meet the high threshold for action due to freedom of speech protections. However, she stressed the significant mental health impact on communities affected by such abuse, particularly those like the Jewish community who may experience antisemitism daily.
The eSafety Commissioner argued that the current regulatory framework is not fit for purpose and that platforms should bear more responsibility for preventing the spread of harmful content. She noted that platforms possess sophisticated algorithmic capabilities to target users with 'deadly precision', making it possible to prevent the spread of such content. The ongoing royal commission's third block of hearings will examine the role of social media in addressing antisemitism and social cohesion.
This testimony joins an international debate about platform accountability, content moderation, and the balance between free speech and users' safety. Britain is no exception: the UK government has faced growing pressure to strengthen online regulations and protect British citizens from the scourge of cyber-abuse.