Ardern says progress on online content
WELLINGTON: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says there is now a defence framework for the online world that did not exist before the Christchurch Call.
The Christchurch Call to Action was initiated by Ms Ardern in Paris almost two years ago, cochaired with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Big tech firms including Amazon, Facebook, Google and Twitter all signed up to the pledge.
Ms Ardern said yesterday it was unrealistic to expect the internet to be free from all content that was of concern.
‘‘The idea that the vast space that is the internet, that we would be able to rid ourselves completely of some of the content that would be of grave concern to us, I don’t think we’ve set ourselves necessarily that unrealistic goal at that stage,’’ she said.
‘‘What we’ve wanted all along is really practical outcomes.’’
She said she wanted ‘‘meaningful progress’’ to be made in reducing this content and reacting quickly if there was to be a situation like the Christchurch attack.
‘‘Those are the kinds of things where we’ve made really good progress.’’
Since the March 15, 2019, terror attacks in Christchurch, there was now an almost 24/7 international emergency response system, she said.
‘‘Which means we have not seen that kind of rapid proliferation of that kind of content online since March 15.’’
There had been a situation recently in which the Government would have preferred better communication between platforms, however, essentially, it was working as expected.
Ms Ardern said there was a common database for companies to share the different ways content was provided and being shared across platforms in order to act more responsively and collectively.
The March 15 terrorist accessed much of the content he was consuming on YouTube, she said.
Better understanding of algorithms in the promotion of terrorism and violent extremism online was something about 10% of members of the Christchurch Call thought was an important first step, Ms Ardern said.
‘‘I’d probably place higher priority on it than that.
‘‘Also, research into this space, understanding what happens when people first access perhaps content that we might not consider as harmful but what leads them down into what we would consider these more harmful items online that might trigger violent extremist activity down the track.’’
The Government is also making changes to New Zealand’s counterterrorism laws, including a new definition for what constitutes a ‘‘terrorist act’’.
The CounterTerrorism Legislation Bill creates three new terrorism offences.
The first is to make it illegal to travel to, from, or via New Zealand with the intention of committing a terrorist act.
Planning or preparing for a terrorist act will also become illegal, and the new law will more specifically target ‘‘terrorist’’ weapons and combat training.
The provisions concerning financing terrorism and eligibility for control orders would also be extended. — RNZ
❛ The idea . . . that we
would be able to rid ourselves completely of some of the content that would be of grave concern to us, I don’t think we’ve set ourselves necessarily that unrealistic goal . . .