Brooke Blurton, a prominent Indigenous Australian advocate, has condemned a viral video that mocks Aboriginal identity and perpetuates harmful stereotypes. The video, posted by Victorian woman Lisa Jane Spencer, shows her in blackface and a fur coat, referring to herself as 'Aunty Lisa' and sniffing a jerry can in a reference to petrol sniffing. Blurton called the content 'racist' and 'harmful' to First Nations communities.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has weighed in, recommending a digital duty of care to force social media companies to mitigate racist content amplified by algorithms. A federal inquiry into racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples received over 420 submissions, many highlighting the toxic online environment. The Commission warns that algorithms incentivise divisive narratives, leading to real-world harm.
First Nations content creators like Sam Bennell and Jordan Hindmarsh-Keevil have spoken out about the mental health toll of online racism. Bennell, who shares Noongar culture, says Facebook pushes his content to racist audiences, while Hindmarsh-Keevil describes Spencer's video as 'racism hidden as comedy'. Spencer defended her video as satire, but Meta removed it after nine days for violating hateful conduct policies.
