Extremists are leveraging coded language and memes to evade detection and post antisemitic content.

ISD Senior Research and Policy Manager Hannah Rose unpacked this development during her testimony before Australia’s Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) covered Hannah’s testimony, highlighting her explanations of extremists’ adoption of “palatable” antisemitism, which is less likely to be detected by moderators.

“Extremist actors are quite good at knowing what does and doesn’t cross the line, and so they’re able to just stay under that line of detection on a mainstream platform.”

Hannah also testified that the October 7 attacks prompted a 51-fold increase in antisemitic content on YouTube, part of a broader pattern of spikes in online antisemitism tied to international events over the past few years.

“[It] speaks to the importance of being able to operate globally in response to antisemitism and international cooperation with other states who are facing the same issues,” she explained.

The full article is available on ABC.