Meta will appear before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion when public hearings resume in Sydney from 29 June to 10 July. OHPI CEO Dr Andre Oboler has given testimony on the spread of antisemitism across social media platforms, including Meta’s Facebook and Instagram.
Hearing Block 3 will examine the spread of antisemitic content across social media platforms, traditional media and broadcasting. Meta’s appearance follows reports that Facebook’s algorithm ranked calls to kill Jews among the “most relevant” responses to a Holocaust memorial post. Meta acknowledged that “no system is perfect” and said it had removed most of the offending comments, although further antisemitic content remained.
Online Hate Prevention Institute CEO Dr Andre Oboler will also return to give evidence. Dr Oboler previously told the Royal Commission that antisemitic content across social media platforms had increased approximately fivefold from November 2023, with the same pattern evident across every platform examined.
He identified incitement as representing “the most direct safety risk” to the Jewish community.
Following the Bondi Beach terror attack in January, OHPI collected 515 items of antisemitic content in less than one month. The material included glorification of the massacre, conspiracy theories blaming Jews and AI-generated disinformation claiming the attack had been staged.
Dr Oboler described the wave of content as “an all-out assault on the Jewish community”.
The hearings will also examine the conduct of traditional media and Australia’s public broadcasters. The Royal Commission has received more than 16,000 public submissions, while further hearings are scheduled to take place in Melbourne from 13 to 24 July.
https://www.australianjewishnews.com/meta-to-appear-before-royal-commission
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