Royal Commission Condemns X Corp and Telegram for Refusing Antisemitism Inquiry

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has condemned X Corp and Telegram for their refusal to cooperate with an inquiry into the proliferation of online hate. Counsel assisting Richard Lancaster SC described the companies' silence following repeated contact in May and June as a "shocking disrespect and disregard" for the safety of Australians. While Meta, TikTok, YouTube Australia, and LinkedIn engaged with the commission, X Corp reportedly ignored notices to produce documents.

Testimony revealed that X Corp fought to keep gruesome footage of the Bondi Hanukkah terror attack online, with eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant comparing the content to a "gore movie." Evidence from CyberWell indicated a sharp decline in X's removal rate for antisemitic content, falling from 54 percent in 2024 to approximately 29 percent in 2026. Commissioner Virginia Bell stated that regulating the online ecosystem to tackle hate speech and antisemitism is central to the commission's mandate.

In addition to social media platforms, the commission questioned broadcasters SBS and ABC over their refusal to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. The broadcasters defended their position by citing the definition's contested nature. The commission also heard testimony from the Australian Communications and Media Authority regarding jurisdictional limitations and delays in resolving complaints.