A survivor of the Bondi attacks, who became the centre of online conspiracy theories, and a member of one of Australia’s richest families are among royal commission witnesses on Monday.
The national anti-Semitism probe resumes in public view this week after a behind-closed-doors stretch focused on security issues.
For the next fortnight, commissioners will be trained on the role of media – particularly the ABC and SBS – and the nature, prevalence and drivers of anti-Semitism and other hate speech on social media.
Arsen Ostrovsky knows first hand how social media can amplify disinformation from his experience following December 14, 2025.
Mr Ostrovsky, separated from his family who had fled to the beach, was shot in the head and, fearful of his life, lay bleeding on the grass at the targetted Hanukkah celebration.
As reported by the ABC, a photo of his bleeding scalp, and another receiving medical treatment, became parts of a conspiratorial campaign to deny the attacks took place.
Mr Ostrovsky will be the first of six witnesses to give evidence on Monday, along with Steven Lowy, the son of business titan Sir Frank Lowy.
Another is Lee Kofman, an Israeli-Australian author who established a WhatsApp group of Jewish artists and creatives.
The membership of that group – which was accused of targeting pro-Palestinian advocates – was leaked in 2024 along with a transcript of their discussions in a highly contentious act.
Ben Cohen, understood to be the man wrongly named as the 2024 Bondi Junction stabbing perpetrator by Sunrise, and two other people listed under psuedonyms will also give evidence.
Social media giant Meta – which owns and operates popular platforms and messaging services Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads – has confirmed it will appear before commissioners in the coming days.
A 2024 study by the Melbourne-based Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI), which studies anti-Semitism and other hate speech, found a five-fold spike in anti-Jewish content on social media in the months after Hamas’ October 7 attack.
The degree of vitriol varied across platforms, with three singled out for “particularly concerning” levels of incitement to violence: Facebook, X and little-known far-right platform Gab.
The royal commission held its its first three weeks of hearings in May, taking evidence from many witnesses including school students who said they experienced anti-Semitism from friends.
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