On the 14th of December 2025 Australia experienced a devastating terrorist attack inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group. Terrorists took up arms and fired upon Australian civilians at Bondi Beach. Australians, such as myself are still in shock regarding this recent attack against our own people. Australians are in grief and this grief will transition into anger. Anger is a healthy and expected emotion for such a devastating attack against our country. Australians will need to find a healthy outlet for this anger. This article will outline why social media is not a practical outlet for this anger. Personally myself, I take my anger out on the boxing bag, you however may have another strategy.
The reason why social media is not a healthy outlet for your anger is because these platforms are infested with AI systems (bots) impersonating humans. Some of these bots can be programed by terrorist groups for the sole purpose of creating further division in society after such an attack. Regardless, if the terrorism was motivated by religious supremacists or from far-left or far-right political ideology, the purpose of terrorism remains clear, to create further division in society that results in further civil unrest and violence. Divide and conquer as a powerful tactic that has been used against civilizations throughout the ages. If you can divide a civilization against each other, this makes it easier to conquer them. The terrorists will be aware of this tactic and will use social media to carry out this tactic.
Censorship has never been the answer, in my personal view all censorship does is push the fanatics underground where they will fester their hateful views in private while these hateful views remain unchallenged. The right to freedom of speech allows us to identify persons in society who hold hateful views so we can challenge their views, attempt to deradicalize them while keeping a watchful eye on them. Freedom of speech provides us with the intelligence of those in society who mean to do us harm. However, does freedom of speech apply to generative AI? Does freedom of speech apply to non-human entities, such as bots that are programed to impersonate a human on social media
In my personal view, no. Freedom of speech does not apply to a generative AI system, freedom of speech does not apply to a robot. Generative AI, or a bot, is not a human and should not be awarded the same rights and freedoms as a human. Social media is infested with AI systems attempting to pass off as human. The fictional character Sarah Connor from the Terminator series was correct in a way, AI has invaded social media, it has disguised itself as a human to trick us and divide us, and the terrorists are utilizing this emerging technology against us.
Regardless of your opinion of Australias eSaftey commissioner, if we set all politics aside and focus on the technical capabilities of this emerging technology, the eSafety commissioner is correct regarding the following quote.
" We are also concerned by reports that terrorists and violent extremists are moving to capitalise on the emergence of generative AI and are experimenting with ways this new technology can be misused to stoke division and cause harm. "
Source: eSafety Statement - Terrorist and extremist material on social media
Australians need to be aware, that the terrorists have potentially invested in this emerging technology to divide us. Australians need to be aware, that not every opinion that they read on social media is the opinion of a human. Australians need to set boundaries with social media usage and understand that AI may be manipulating their worldview while feeding them with false validation. Social media is not a reflection of our society, social media is a fake society, infiltrated by AI bots that have been deployed by terrorists with the intention to divide then conquer us. Do not allow yourself to become a useful idiot of these bots. I am not telling you to refrain from posting your opinions on social media, I am telling you to be aware that social media is infested by AI bot accounts, that are designed to manipulate you. If you wish to discuss your opinions, your grief or your anger about this recent terrorist attack, its best to discuss this with another Australian, in person, at the pub.