Spreading the Mosque Shooting Video Is a Crime in New Zealand

Source: NY Times

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — A lone white supremacist is the suspect in the Christchurch mosque killings. But under New Zealand law, many others could face charges for spreading or perhaps even possessing all or part of the 17-minute Facebook Live video streamed by the killer as he methodically shot the victims.

As of Thursday, at least two people had been charged with sharing that video via social media, under a law that forbids dissemination or possession of material depicting extreme violence and terrorism. Others could face related charges in connection with publicizing the terrorist attack, under a human-rights law that forbids incitement of racial disharmony.

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Facebook and other social media platforms also could face new legal issues because of the video, and not only in New Zealand. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand has vowed to investigate the role that social media played in the attack and to take action, possibly alongside other countries, against the sites that broadcast it.

“We cannot simply sit back and accept that these platforms just exist and that what is said on them is not the responsibility of the place where they are published,” she told Parliament on Tuesday. “They are the publisher, not just the postman.”

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/21/world/asia/new-zealand-attacks-social-media.html?emc=edit_th_190322&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=469281980322

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First an assault weapons and high capacity magazine ban in 72 hours and now a vow to investigate "social" media platforms.

It's about time. The adults are obviously in charge now in New Zealand. Time for the adults to re-take control here in the USA. Way past time.