The government is considering making it a criminal offence to livestream objectionable content as part of a wider government programme to address violent extremism.
Photo: 123RF
Gaps in New Zealand's laws to tackle concerning online activity were highlighted in the wake of the Christchurch Mosque terrorist attacks on 15 March.
However, spokesperson for the Islamic Women's Council New Zealand, Anjum Rahman, told Morning Report she's concerned by the specific wording used in the proposed bill.
She said the classification's office was hampered in March 2019 by not having the legal ability to make a quick order and remove videos and Facebook removed 1.5 million copies of the mosque attack video within the first 24 hours.
"There are certain aspects of this bill that are of concern, certainly in a case like the livestreaming of that shooting where it was from the point of view of the perpetrator and where he was glorifying and justifying his actions, that seems to be an obvious case of something being able to be taken down quickly."
In particular, she's concerned about the act saying an inspector can take things down when they believe on reasonable grounds that something will be objectionable.
"That means that it hasn't gone through a process, that it is just someone's opinion and what constitutes reasonable grounds?"
She said people have been watching the impeachment proceedings currently taking place in the US in which a video was shown of one of the rioters being shot - a video which is now evidence. Other videos online show violence in Syria which is also evidence, she said.
"I think there needs to be more than consultation and I think there needs to be more specific protection in that an inspector can't just use reasonable grounds as a means to take things down."
