Confronting Holocaust Trivialization, Denial, and Distortion Online: Holocaust Memory Threatened by Global Post-October 7th Distortion Surge

The October 7th massacre perpetrated by Hamas in southern Israel and its aftermath have significantly altered the volume of Holocaust trivialization, denial, and distortion on X, causing a surge of nearly 590%, according to a new study conducted by the Antisemitism Research Center by CAM, in partnership with the Media Intelligence Group (MIG).

Analyzing online discourse spanning from October 7th, 2023, to April 1st, 2024, it becomes evident that Holocaust trivialization and denial comprised merely 13% of the broader conversation on Holocaust denialism. Conversely, distortion overwhelmingly dominated the discourse, constituting 87% of the discussion.

This stark shift marks a significant departure from pre-October 7th dynamics, wherein distortion accounted for just 17% of the overall discourse on Holocaust, with trivialization and denial occupying a substantial 83% share.

The 25-34 age range predominantly engages in Holocaust distortion, with the 18-24 age range following closely behind. Together, those aged 18-34 accounted for more than 68% of Holocaust distortion monitored on X.

Findings indicate that the top five countries experiencing the most significant increase in Holocaust trivialization, denial, and distortion are as follows: United States (58%), Germany (5%), UK (5%), Canada (5%), and France (4%).

CAM offered the following policy recommendations, based on the results of the study:

Clear Content Moderation Guidelines: To effectively combat the rise of Holocaust denial, distortion, and trivialization, as well as emergent 10/7 denial, policymakers must prioritize the implementation of comprehensive regulatory frameworks tailored to address this specific issue. First and foremost, clear and enforceable content moderation guidelines should be established.

Robust Compliance Mechanisms: Platforms should be mandated to swiftly remove any content that denies, distorts, or trivializes the Holocaust or the October 7th atrocities. These guidelines should be accompanied by robust enforcement mechanisms, including regular audits and penalties for non-compliance, to ensure platforms adhere to their responsibilities in combating hate speech and misinformation.

Legal Accountability for Platforms: Additionally, policymakers should consider instituting legal measures to hold platforms accountable for the dissemination of Holocaust denial, distortion, and trivialization, particularly if used to incite violence or threats against Jewish communities. This may involve revisiting existing legislation to clarify the legal obligations of social media companies in preventing the spread of such harmful content.

Foster International Cooperation: Furthermore, exploring avenues for international cooperation and harmonization of regulations can strengthen the effectiveness of these measures, as online content knows no borders. By fostering collaboration between governments, law enforcement agencies, and tech companies, policymakers can create a unified front against Holocaust denial, distortion, and trivialization in the digital sphere.

Recognize Holocaust and October 7th Denialism as Antisemitism: More than 1,200 countries, sub-national government bodies, educational institutions and civil society organizations have adopted the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as a policy framework in recent years. Similarly, to better recognize and combat Holocaust denialism, entities should adopt and look to the IHRA’s Working Definition of Holocaust Denial and Distortion. Policymakers and antisemitism should also incorporate October 7th denialism as an emerging form of antisemitism.

CAM also proposed the following outline to strengthen Holocaust education:

Address Educational Failure: As the report shows, 68% of Holocaust denial, distortion, and trivialization is perpetrated by Gen Z and Millennial demographics. Policymakers and educators must recognize the unfortunate reality that Holocaust education is failing younger generations.

Promote Digital Literacy and Historical Understanding: Investing in uniform and effective educational initiatives to promote digital literacy and historical understanding is essential in addressing the root causes of Holocaust denial and distortion online. Policymakers should allocate more resources to develop age-appropriate educational programs that equip users with the critical thinking skills necessary to discern fact from fiction and recognize the dangers of Holocaust denial.

Invest in Research: More in-depth research on these topics is needed. Government entities should invest in and collaborate with research centers to further study these emergent threats to the Jewish people and the Western liberal democratic order.

The full report — “Confronting Holocaust Trivialization, Denial, and Distortion Online: Holocaust Memory Threatened by Global Post-October 7th Distortion Surge” — can be read HERE.