Australia's Online Safety Regulator Confirms Gamified Bondi Attack Content Circulating
Australia's eSafety commissioner has reported that "gamified" versions of the December Bondi terror attack have been circulated online, with the regulator responding to over 100 complaints about footage of the massacre. The online safety authority identified these disturbing adaptations alongside bystander videos of the antisemitic attack on platforms including X, Instagram, Threads, and various fringe websites.
Details of the December Attack and Online Aftermath
Naveed and Sajid Akram allegedly killed 15 people after opening fire at a Hanukah festival at Bondi Beach on December 14. Naveed Akram survived a shootout with police, while his father was killed at the scene. Akram has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.
In the months following the tragedy, the eSafety commissioner's office has managed a significant influx of complaints regarding videos of the attack posted online. According to briefing documents prepared for Senate estimates hearings and published under freedom of information laws, the regulator monitored footage and identified videos across multiple platforms.
Nature of Gamified Content and Platform Responses
The commissioner was alerted to what it described as "gamified versions" of the attack "circulating online overseas." An eSafety spokesperson clarified that gamified refers to "instances where real life events are converted into game-like aesthetics for viewing or as background to an interactive game," though specific details about the games involved were not disclosed.
The regulator received 106 complaints primarily consisting of videos taken by bystanders. Initial footage was classified MA15+ in Australia, while later material was refused classification, making its distribution illegal within the country. The content was discovered on a fringe website and Elon Musk's X platform, which implemented geo-blocking measures to prevent Australian access while the posts remained available elsewhere.
Broader Context of Online Hate and Regulatory Challenges
Since Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, eSafety has observed a "marked but modest" increase in hate speech reports, with 102 submissions including nine related to antisemitic content, eight concerning Islamophobia, and 23 reports of religious discrimination. The regulator issued four removal notices under the adult cyberbullying scheme in response to these reports.
Among antisemitic bullying reports, one case met the threshold for regulatory action involving antisemitic content targeting an ABC journalist, which was referred by the AFP's Special Operation Avalite. The platform hosting the content removed the post for violating its terms of service.
eSafety issued 32 removal notices for manifestos containing far-right and Islamic State material, along with the Christchurch terror attack video. However, the regulator currently lacks authority to remove content targeting groups rather than individuals, a limitation highlighted in last year's Online Safety Act review.
Government Response and Future Considerations
In its response to the review this week, the federal government acknowledged the recommendation to add a definition of online hate material to the law but indicated it would consider this as part of planned digital duty of care legislation later this year. The government expressed concerns that expanding the adult cyber abuse scheme might prove "operationally burdensome and counterproductive."
The eSafety commissioner stated it is "considering what further action may be appropriate" regarding the gamified content and online footage, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in regulating harmful material across global digital platforms.
