Christchurch, New Zealand – After a devastating terrorist attack was livestreamed in New Zealand, former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern took a stand to eradicate violent and extremist content from the internet. This led to the establishment of the Christchurch Call, an organization focused on combatting such material online. Recently, the Christchurch Call has been in communication with the Australian government regarding a legal dispute involving X, previously known as Twitter.
The Australian eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has been engaged in a legal battle with X after footage of an alleged terrorist attack in Sydney was posted on the platform. Following a stabbing attack and an alleged terrorist incident in Sydney, where footage was live-streamed, the material was deemed as abhorrent and required immediate removal by social media platforms according to the law.
Despite X geoblocking the material in Australia, the eSafety commissioner insisted on its worldwide removal, as Australians could still access it using VPNs. The Christchurch Call, with its commitment to eliminating terrorist and violent content online, continued its efforts to support the Australian government in addressing such incidents.
The Christchurch Call was initiated in response to the horrific mosque attacks in Christchurch, where a gunman killed 51 individuals during Friday prayers in 2019. The livestreamed event prompted global outrage and a call for action to prevent the spread of extremist material online. This led to the launch of the Christchurch Call to Action, bringing together governments, technology companies, and civil society groups to address the dissemination of violent and extreme content on the internet.
Over 50 countries, including the US, Britain, Germany, and South Korea, have joined the Christchurch Call, along with major tech companies like Facebook, Google, and Microsoft. These signatories pledge to take proactive measures to prevent the upload and dissemination of terrorist and violent extremist content online.
With the recent change in leadership at Twitter, now known as X under Elon Musk’s ownership, the company’s approach towards content moderation and participation in initiatives like the Christchurch Call has raised concerns. As the legal battle between the Australian government and X unfolds, it serves as a test case for e-safety legislation worldwide, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between tech companies and regulators to ensure online safety.
Overall, the efforts of the Christchurch Call and the ongoing legal disputes highlight the complexities surrounding the regulation of online content and the need for continued collaboration between governments, tech companies, and civil society to address issues of extremist material on the internet.