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21 May 2019

Eight companies & 17 govts. support Christchurch Call to address terrorist & violent extremist content; civil society expresses concerns with the process

On 15 May 2019, 8 companies, 17 governments, and the European Commission adopted the Christchurch Call, a voluntary commitment to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This call was proposed two months after terrorist attacks at two Christchurch mosques which were both planned online and livestreamed on Facebook.

The call states that all action to address terrorist and violent extermist content online must be "consistent with principles of a free, open and secure internet, without compromising human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression. It must also recognise the internet’s ability to act as a force for good, including by promoting innovation and economic development and fostering inclusive societies." The full text of the call is available here. Current company supports of the call include Amazon, Daily Motion, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Quant, Twitter and YouTube.

While civil society supports some of the key values espoused in the Call, concerns have been raised about the process and timeline of the Call (including lack of meaningful participation by civil society actors), the definition of "terrorism and violent extremism", and the appropriate roles of tech companies and governments. Civil society actors detailed these concerns, as well as points for further discussion, in this letter.

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