In Melbourne, Australia, a government inquiry is examining the spread of antisemitism following a tragic attack in Sydney. During the inquiry, Google Australia manager Rachel Lord explained a decision concerning a controversial YouTube video.

The video falsely claimed that Arsen Ostrovsky, who survived the Sydney Hanukkah massacre, was a crisis actor using fake blood. Despite these claims, the video remained on YouTube. Lord stated that the video met the platform’s content standards and the decision had been reviewed at higher levels of the company.

During the inquiry, lawyer Richard Lancaster raised concerns about YouTube’s hate speech guidelines. He presented a transcript where the video falsely accused Ostrovsky of being an “intelligence asset” with theater skills, labeling the massacre a “false flag operation.”

Authorities allege the attack, carried out by Sajid and Naveed Akram, was influenced by the Islamic State group. Lord acknowledged Lancaster’s criticism but emphasized YouTube’s efforts to provide high-quality information about such events.

Ostrovsky shared his experience with targeted online hate and manipulation since suffering a minor head wound during the attack. The inquiry also viewed an AI-generated image misleadingly depicting Ostrovsky with fake blood.