Bill to fine social media for distributing harmful content

WELLINGTON: Facebook, Twitter and YouTube could face $200,000 fines for failing to take down objectionable content in a major proposal for dealing with digital harm in the wake of the March 15 terrorist attacks in Christchurch.

A civil fine is one aspect of a new Bill, introduced yesterday by Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin, that would make social media platforms more responsible for the content they host in New Zealand.

Someone livestreaming content, such as the footage of the terror attack, would also face criminal punishment.

Questions remain over how enforceable a fine would be, given that many of these online platforms are based offshore.

Under the Harmful Digital Communications Act, the likes of Facebook and Twitter are not considered traditional publishers making them exempt from legal liability under safe harbour provisions of that law.

The new Films, Videos, and

Publications Classification Amendment Bill would create an inspector of publications who could issue takedown notices for objectionable content. Examples of such content, deemed injurious to the public good, include torture, sexual violence, child sexual abuse, or terrorism. — The New Zealand Herald