‘Covered in ketchup’: Sydney terror attack survivor targeted by antisemitic deepfakes - Ynetnews

Bondi Beach terror attack survivor Arsen Ostrovsky testified before Australia’s royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion regarding a relentless campaign of AI-manipulated imagery and online abuse. Ostrovsky, who was wounded during the Hanukkah terror attack, reported that fake content began circulating while he was still being prepared for surgery.

What happened

Within hours of the shooting, manipulated images of Ostrovsky began spreading online. One AI-generated image depicted him sitting on the ground laughing while someone painted his face red, while other manipulated photos showed him holding an Oscar while covered in blood. Beyond the AI-generated content, Ostrovsky faced a wave of conspiracy claims, with social media users labeling him a "trauma tourist" and a "false flag attack actor," while others falsely claimed the blood in his photos was ketchup or paint.

Ostrovsky noted that the abuse was immediate and surreal, occurring while he was in the hospital awaiting an operation. Despite his efforts to ignore the harassment, the content remains accessible; for example, a YouTube video continues to circulate accusing him of being a "crisis actor" and an "intelligence agency asset." Ostrovsky described the ongoing campaign as cruel, stating that it aims to erase his personal experience and trauma. The royal commission is currently examining the spread of such hate speech on social media platforms, with testimony highlighting how these digital tools are weaponized to harass victims of violence.