Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently spoke at Holy Blossom Temple synagogue in Toronto, ostensibly to denounce antisemitism. However, according to columnist Warren Kinsella, Carney's address was a missed opportunity to confront the issue head-on.
Kinsella, who has written about hate for four decades, argues that indifference is a key driver of antisemitism. Carney, he says, offered platitudes and quoted philosophers but failed to articulate the causes or solutions. The prime minister seemed detached, as if the surge in antisemitism does not affect him personally.
Social Media as a Catalyst
During a visit to Israel for the Tel Aviv International Documentary Festival, Kinsella heard from many Israelis who pointed to social media as the primary amplifier of antisemitism since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Algorithms, hashtags, AI, and bot farms, along with the indifference of tech leaders like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, have made hate content pervasive.
A report by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) found that antisemitism on Instagram often appears without user intent. In sessions exploring wellness topics, accounts were served content that escalated from clean eating to conspiracy theories and Nazi propaganda within 45 minutes. Wellness videos led to antisemitism a third of the time, fitness videos a quarter.
The Reconstruction of Reality
Tony Price, a Toronto music producer, wrote in Harper's magazine about how content is staged to simulate virality. Disinformation and manipulation create a false groundswell, shaping perceived reality. This same mechanism now spreads online Jew hatred, unbidden and unopposed.
Kinsella concludes that Carney's indifference mirrors the apathy that allows antisemitism to flourish. Until leaders address the root causes, including social media's role, the problem will persist.
