X under fire for 'shocking disrespect' of antisemitism royal commission

Fri 10 Jul 2026 at 12:24pm

Fri 10 Jul 2026 at 12:24pm

Social media giants, including Elon Musk's X Corp, have come under fire after the royal commission on antisemitism expressed frustration at some platforms' refusal to engage.

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has for the past two weeks heard from data analysts, victims of harassment and social media platforms as the inquiry examines the prevalence of online hate.

Representatives from major platforms Meta, TikTok and YouTube Australia have fronted the commission.

Counsel assisting Richard Lancaster SC on Friday issued a scathing address to platforms that did not respond to the commission's notices to produce documents or otherwise engage with the inquiry.

He was particularly critical of X, which was contacted repeatedly through its Australian legal representatives in May and June.

Mr Lancaster said despite the numerous attempts to engage with the platform, "X Corp has remained silent".

He said this was concerning given the lived experience and expert evidence heard at the commission, which suggested antisemitic content was prevalent on the platform, used by millions of Australian.

Mr Lancaster said the conduct showed a "shocking disrespect and disregard" for the online safety of Australian social media users.

He said the lack of participation by X, Telegram and others at the commission demonstrated an urgent need for regulatory reform.