KEY POINTS:
- A notorious Australian white supremacist is now on X amid concerns over extremist content on the platform.
- Thomas Sewell's page is already littered with pro-Hitler and racist content.
- It comes weeks after Elon Musk endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy on the platform.
Neo-Nazi and convicted criminal Thomas Sewell appears to be posting on X, formerly Twitter, weeks after its owner Elon Musk described an antisemitic conspiracy theory as "the actual truth".
Concerns have been raised over on X under Musk, after he sacked a high number of content moderators tasked with removing extremist content from the platform.
Research conducted by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media this year found a "major and sustained spike" in anti-semitism on X since Musk's takeover in October last year.
Musk himself was accused of exacerbating the issue last month when several advertisers abandoned the platform after he used it to conspiracy to his 165 million followers.
It comes weeks after the owner of X, Elon Musk, endorsed an antisemitic post on the platform. Source: Getty / Kirsty Wigglesworth
A page that appears to be run by him has only been active for two days but is already littered with several antisemitic and Islamophobic posts, including explicit praise for Adolf Hitler.
One antisemitic video of Sewell the account reposted, which praises Hitler, has been viewed more than 30,000 times.
SBS News has contacted X over Sewell's appearance on the platform. But, as with previous queries, since Musk fired the company's public relations team, it immediately received an automated response: "Busy now, please check back later".
Victoria's police union called for extra powers to crack down on extremist protests this weekend after Sewell led a group of balaclava-covered racists through Ballarat chanting: "Australia is for the white man".
Sewell has also appeared unmasked at neo-Nazi rallies in Victoria over the past 12 months.
Antisemitism on the rise on X
More than half of X's content moderators — tasked with moderating hate speech and misinformation — have reportedly been fired or have left the company since Musk's takeover.
The Anti-Defamation League, which Musk has threatened to sue, found reports of harassment and extremist content had also spiked since then.
Sewell has appeared at a number of neo-Nazi rallies in Victoria over the past 12 months. Source: AAP / James Ross
"You have said the actual truth," Musk replied.
The antisemitic claim amplified by Musk is similar to those made in some of Sewell's posts on X.
The X owner described an as an attempt to "blackmail" his company, telling those involved: "Go f--- yourself".
But he conceded the post was the "dumbest" he had uploaded to the platform, and denied being an antisemite.
Jewish groups calls for removal of 'stomach-churning' profiles
Dvir Abramovich, Anti-Defamation Commission chairman, demanded X move quickly to remove Sewell and other racists from the platform.
Abramovich said neo-Nazis like Sewell trafficked in "stomach-churning vilification" online, which had the potential to flow into real-world violence.
"The time is now to shut down the accounts of neo-Nazis like Thomas Sewell who are weaponizing social media as part of their campaign of dehumanisation, harassment and intimidation," he said.
"This Hitler worshipper has hijacked X in an attempt to publicise his dangerous ideology, propaganda and activities and to actively recruit members.
"At a time of an alarming explosion in antisemitism here and abroad, these companies have the responsibility to do everything in their power to stop violent prejudice from growing and flourishing online, and to ensure that the spaces they offer are safe for users."
In October, eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant said many social media companies, including X, ignored questions about the steps they were taking to remove hate content.
That included refusing to confirm how many people they employed to moderate their platforms, Inman Grant said.
"If you've got an HR or payroll system, you know the answer ... [But] some of these companies are just not even providing answers or leaving entire questions blank," she said.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has criticised social media platforms, including X. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland urged industry to "take responsibility for protecting Australians online".
Rowland reminded Australians who experienced racism or hatred on X they could report it both to X and the Office of the eSafety Commissioner.
"Racism and hatred are unacceptable, and have no place in Australian society – offline or online," she said.
"There are important protections in place with powers for the eSafety Commissioner to order the removal of online material targeted at an Australian adult that is menacing, harassing or offensive and intended to cause serious harm."
