Facebook curbs livestream features after New Zealand attack

Facebook announced that it would restrict its live-streaming features after the mosque attack in New Zealand, in an effort to stop the use of social media in organizing and encouraging terrorism.

In March 15, the gunman live-broadcasted his attack in the Christchurch mosque in New Zealand that killed 51 people. The suspected perpetrator is Australian man Brenton Tarrant, who has 50 murder and 39 attempted murder records.

According to a Facebook statement, anyone sharing “violating content” will be blocked from the livestream feature for a set period. It is also planning to extend the curbs to other sections, spending $7.5 million for automatic detection of inappropriate content.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern commented that the measure is “a good first step”. She is coordinating an online extremism summit in Paris with President Macron, in which the political leaders will meet tech giant representatives to call for an action to eliminate terrorist contents online.