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May 16, 2019

U.S. Won't Join "Christchurch Call" Against Online Extremism
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In Paris, the leaders of France and New Zealand on Wednesday unveiled an
agreement to combat online extremism. The so-called "Christchurch Call"
is named after the New Zealand city where, in March, a white nationalist
gunman killed 51 worshipers at two mosques - and live-streamed the
massacre on Facebook. This is New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern: "The social media dimension to the attack
was unprecedented. And our response today with the adoption of the
Christchurch Call is equally unprecedented as well. Never before have
countries and tech companies come together in the wake of a horrific
attack to commit to an action plan that will deliver collaboratively,
work in new technology built to make our communities ultimately safer."

So far the Christchurch Call has the support of 16 countries, the
European Commission and eight tech giants. But the Trump Administration
said Wednesday it was "not currently in a position to join the
endorsement." The White House cited concerns the agreement could violate
the First Amendment. In a New York Times opinion piece last weekend,
Prime Minister Ardern wrote she supports free speech rights but "that
right does not include the freedom to broadcast mass murder."


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