Social Media Giants Under Scrutiny Over New Zealand Mosque Shooting Footage

Social media giants Facebook, Twitter, Google on Friday faced scrutiny over extremist content on their platforms after video footage of mass shootings in New Zealand was live streamed and widely shared online.

Footage of the attacks at two mosques, which left 49 dead in New Zealand’s worst-ever mass shooting, was broadcast live to Facebook and then shared by users on other platforms.

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, following the shootings, said they were taking action to remove the videos.

“Police alerted us to a video on Facebook shortly after the live stream commenced and we quickly removed both the shooter’s Facebook and Instagram accounts and the video.

“We’re also removing any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon as we’re aware,” Facebook tweeted.

Twitter said it had rigorous processes and a dedicated team in place for managing exigent and emergency situations such as this.

“We also cooperate with law enforcement to facilitate their investigations as required,” it said.

Alphabet Inc’s YouTube said: “Please know we are working vigilantly to remove any violent footage.”

However hours after the attack, copies of the footage were still available on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, as well as Facebook-owned Instagram and WhatsApp.

The videos show the gunman driving to one mosque, entering it and shooting randomly at people inside.

Reuters was unable to confirm the authenticity of the footage.

“You really need to do more @YouTube @Google @facebook @Twitter to stop violent extremism being promoted on your platforms,” minister Sajid Javid wrote on Twitter.

Live streaming services have become a central component of social media companies’ growth strategy in recent years; however they are also increasingly exploited by some users to livestream offensive and violent content.

In 2017, a father in Thailand broadcast himself killing his daughter on Facebook Live.

Facebook, after more than a day and 370,000 views, removed the video of a man shooting and killing another in Cleveland also shocked viewers.