TikTok Says It Stopped Bondi Attack Footage Spreading Within 90 Minutes: ‘Like a SWAT Team’

TikTok’s global head of policy, trust and safety, Zachary Hecht, has testified that the company removed content related to the Bondi terrorist attack within 90 minutes. The swift response has raised eyebrows in Australia, where the incident left 15 people dead during a Hanukkah celebration.

Hecht stated that automated moderation tools were instrumental in screening out harmful content. These tools are credited with removing 98% of objectionable material in the first quarter of the year. However, this leaves open questions about the remaining 2%. Are human moderators reviewing these cases to ensure they are handled correctly?

TikTok’s lack of content moderators based in Australia is also a concern. Valiant Richey, the company’s global head of partnerships, elections and market integrity, described their approach as “like our basic police force versus a SWAT team.” This implies that automated tools are sufficient for dealing with sensitive content.

However, this raises questions about TikTok’s ability to respond quickly and effectively in times of crisis. The rise of antisemitic content on the platform has been a worrying trend since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. TikTok removed over 67,000 videos related to hate speech in the first three months of 2026.

TikTok employs 760 staff and 16 contractors in Sydney and Melbourne, but none work as content moderators. This raises questions about the effectiveness of their automated moderation tools and whether they are sufficient for dealing with sensitive content.

In contrast, Meta’s policy director, Benjamin Good, downplayed claims of controversial changes to its policies that led to an increase in antisemitic content across its platforms. The company has shifted to a largely reactive approach to enforcing its hateful conduct policy, relying on users to report harmful content.

The Australian government’s decision to establish a royal commission to examine antisemitism and social cohesion is a welcome step towards addressing these concerns. However, the responses from TikTok and Meta have raised more questions than answers about their handling of sensitive content.

As the final report is due by December, it will be interesting to see how these companies respond to the recommendations made by the commission. Social media platforms like TikTok and Meta have a responsibility to ensure that their users are safe from harm. While they may claim to be doing everything in their power to prevent the spread of antisemitic content, the reality on the ground tells a different story.

The testimony from TikTok and Meta has highlighted the need for more effective moderation tools and policies to prevent the spread of hate speech. As the royal commission continues its inquiry, it’s essential that these companies take a hard look at their responsibilities towards their users and the wider community.

Ultimately, social media platforms like TikTok and Meta have a critical role to play in preventing the spread of hate speech and antisemitic content. It is imperative for them to take concrete steps to improve their moderation tools and policies to ensure that they are effective in preventing harm.