Tech giants’ new plan aims to thwart online terrorism

LEADERS from 26 countries gathered in Paris to urge social media giants to stop their platforms being “perverted as a tool for terrorists” in the wake of the New Zealand massacre of 51 people live-streamed to Facebook on March 15.

The worldwide call to regulate social media was staged on the two-month anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attack, in a summit spearheaded by French president Emmanuel Macron and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured).

The world leaders approved a nine-point undertaking for social networks at the meeting that’s been dubbed the “Christchurch Call”. But the US will not be a part of the push with the White House declining to sign the call to action.

Ms Ardern said the terrorist attack was unprecedented, as its victims were not only killed in their place of worship but then “killed online” in the 17minute Facebook live-stream that was widely disseminated for days after the event.

“The social media response to the attack was unprecedented,” Ms Ardern said. “And our response today with the Christchurch Call is equally unprecedented.”

The agreement, which has been signed by Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, Google and Amazon, calls for the tech giants to introduce new safeguards, reporting measures, and data reporting to stop the spread of terrorist content.