Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called social media a "scourge".

woman in black long sleeve shirt standing in front of clothes

Following the release of graphic images and videos from Bondi Junction's stabbing attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called social media a "scourge". Joel Cauchi, 40, killed six and seriously injured 12 at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday. Police inspectors shot him dead. Video of victims in the shopping centre and photos of his corpse with the policewoman who shot him were posted online.

“It certainly does. I have spoken consistently about the need for social cohesion, about people in political life, to avoid feeding some of the division which is there, and for people to act responsibly. Social media can be a good thing, but it can also be a source of massive disruption. The fact that what social media has done is make everyone a publisher and some mainstream media also spread some misinformation -” Albanese said.

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Australians have been advised by the eSafety Commissioner not to share such upsetting content."If you see violent, distressing or harmful content online, please don't share it further - even if you want to acknowledge or mourn the victims," an eSafety Commissioner representative told AAP in a statement.

Internet users were encouraged to report such content to the eSafety Commissioner or to the platform so that it can be swiftly removed.

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