The ISIS Connection: Facebook Under Fire for Hosting Posts Celebrating the Bondi Massacre

Social media giant Facebook is facing intense scrutiny following allegations that it failed to remove extremist content celebrating the recent terrorist massacre at Bondi Beach. A report from the UK-based Community Security Trust (CST) reveals that the platform allowed posts praising the deadly attack on a Chanukah celebration to remain accessible for extended periods. This failure in moderation comes at a time when antisemitism has reached record levels globally, leading Jewish communities to warn that digital platforms are acting as accelerants for real-world violence and terror.

The findings highlight a disturbing trend where content openly glorifying ISIS and the perpetrators of the Sydney attack was left online despite being reported. Among the examples cited in the report was a post featuring the aftermath of the massacre with the caption, “Allah is the greatest and praise to Allah.” Another post showcased one of the gunmen, Sajid Akram, and warned of “the coming years of art and hell” while offering explicit praise for a known ISIS leader. This connection to global terror was further solidified when Australian authorities recovered a homemade Islamic State flag from the vehicle used by the suspects, Sajid and Naveed Akram, during their rampage.

The CST has reported multiple UK-based profiles sharing this supportive content to counter-terror police, emphasizing that the scale of the material is deeply concerning. CST policy director Dave Rich rejected Meta’s claims that they were in the process of removing the material, calling the platform's response inadequate. “The sheer volume of IS-supporting accounts promoting terrorist content on Facebook is deeply alarming, and the posts celebrating the Bondi terrorist attack are utterly nauseating,” Rich said. He further stated that social media companies are repeatedly failing their most basic responsibilities, which ultimately puts the public in danger.

While Meta, the parent company of Facebook, told media outlets that the content violated policies regarding dangerous organizations and individuals and was being taken down, critics argue the damage is already done. The delay in moderation allows terrorist propaganda to reach thousands of users, further radicalizing individuals and inciting more attacks. As the war against global terror continues, the role of tech giants in policing their own platforms has become a central point of debate, with many demanding stricter enforcement to prevent the glorification of those who murder innocent civilians.