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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Bondi Survivor Faced 'Influx of Hate' Online, Royal Commission Hears

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A survivor of the Bondi Beach terror attack faced an "influx of hate" online, including deepfake images, just hours after the event.
  • The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is investigating the spread of hate speech, with survivor Arsen Ostrovsky testifying about his experience.
  • Social media platform Gab Social was criticized for being "hostile" in its engagement with the commission, with its CEO asserting defiance against Australian authorities.

Hours after surviving the terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach, a survivor found himself targeted by an "influx of hate" online, including manipulated images and offensive comments. Arsen Ostrovsky, who was present during the December 14, 2025, attack that claimed 15 lives, testified before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion about his harrowing experience.

There were messages of solidarity, but there was almost immediately an influx of hate, of abuse, of vilification, of AI manipulation.

— Arsen OstrovskyDescribing the online reaction to an image of his injuries shared after the Bondi Beach terror attack.

Ostrovsky shared that an image of his injuries, posted on X approximately two hours after the shooting, quickly attracted vitriol. He described seeing "messages of solidarity, but there was almost immediately an influx of hate, of abuse, of vilification, of AI manipulation." He recounted the surreal experience of witnessing such material while preparing for surgery.

Social media comments labeled Ostrovsky a "trauma tourist" and accused him of participating in a "false flag attack." Some users claimed the blood in his photograph was ketchup or paint. The commission was shown an AI-generated image depicting Ostrovsky laughing while someone painted his face red, an incident that occurred as he was being prepped for surgery.

It was surreal to be in the state that I was in hospital and seeing this material at the same time.

— Arsen OstrovskyExpressing his reaction to the hate speech and manipulated images he encountered online after the attack.

The inquiry also heard criticism directed at the US-based social media platform Gab Social. Counsel assisting the commission, Richard Lancaster SC, described Gab Social's engagement as "openly hostile." A spokesperson for the platform stated it was an "American company, run by Americans" that would "publish what it likes, when it likes."

This was happening as I was literally being prepped to go into surgery.

— Arsen OstrovskyHighlighting the timing of encountering a disturbing AI-generated image while awaiting surgery.

Gab founder and CEO Andrew Torba declared in a statement on X that he does not answer to Australian bureaucrats and that Gab does not answer to "state-sponsored censors." He accused the Australian government of declaring "war on free speech" and threatening him with imprisonment for exposing their plans. Several other social media platforms, including Meta, Google, LinkedIn, and TikTok, are expected to appear before the commission.

I do not answer to Australian bureaucrats and Gab does not answer to state-sponsored censors.

— Andrew TorbaStating his and Gab Social's stance on complying with the Australian royal commission's requests.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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