Sajid Javid warns social media giants they must not do 'terrorists’ work for them’ in wake of Christchurch attack
2 min read
Social media platforms have a responsibility to “clean up their platforms” or risk doing “the terrorists’ work for them”, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has warned.
Writing in the Daily Express, Mr Javid added that companies that allowed hate messages to be broadcast on their platform “should be prepared to face the force of the law”.
His warnings come after 49 people were killed at two mosques in New Zealand by a gunman who live-streamed the attack on Facebook.
The original video has since been removed from the site, but the 17-minute live-stream has since been replicated and widely shared on other social media platforms such as Twitter and Youtube.
Mr Javid urged everyone to “stop view and sharing this sick material”, describing it as “wrong” and “illegal”.
He said: “This terrorist filmed his shooting with the intention of spreading his ideology. Tech companies must do more to stop his messages being broadcast on their platforms.”
Speaking on Twitter, he called on social platforms YouTube, Google, Facebook and Twitter to “do more” after footage of the incident remained available for hours after the attack.
https://twitter.com/sajidjavid/status/1106534471246008320
The Government is due to publish a delayed White Paper on “online harms” this month.
Mr Javid sought to assure British Muslims that he would “redouble efforts to keep [them] safe”.
He said: “I know British Muslims will be feeling worried right now.
“Counter Terrorism police are stepping up patrols around mosques and advising on what people can do to protect themselves.”
Brenton Tarrant, 28, appeared in court in New Zealand on Saturday on a single murder charge. Further charges are expected to be made against him.
Shortly before the attack, Tarrant published a “manifesto” online in which he claimed to have been inspired by Islamophobic violence in Britain such as the attack on a mosque in Finsbury Park, London.
In the document, Tarrant also called on his followers to kill the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who is a Muslim.
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