Internet companies scrambled Friday to remove graphic video filmed by a gunman in the New Zealand mosque shootings that was widely available on social media for hours after the horrific attack.
Facebook said it took down a livestream of the shootings and removed the shooter's Facebook and Instagram accounts after being alerted by police. At least 49 people were killed at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand's third-largest city.
Facebook is "removing any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon as we're aware," she said. "We will continue working directly with New Zealand Police as their response and investigation continues."The furor highlights once again the speed at which graphic and disturbing content from a tragedy can spread around the world and how Silicon Valley tech giants are still grappling with how to prevent that from happening.
The video's spread underscores the challenge for Facebook even after stepping up efforts to keep inappropriate and violent content off its platform. In 2017 it said it would hire 3,000 people to review videos and other posts, on top of the 4,500 people Facebook already tasks with identifying criminal and other questionable material for removal.
Facebook and YouTube were designed to share pictures of babies, puppies and other wholesome things, he said, "but they were expanded at such a scale and built with no safeguards such that they were easy to hijack by the worst elements of humanity." At one point, the shooter even paused to give a shout-out to one of YouTube's top personalities, known as PewDiePie, with tens of millions of followers, who has made jokes criticized as anti-Semitic and posted Nazi imagery in his videos.The seemingly incongruous reference to the Swedish vlogger known for his video game commentaries as well as his racist references was instantly recognizable to many of his 86 million followers.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
His hearing restored, New Zealand prop Morgan Mitchell relishing new challenge in CanadaHis hearing restored, New Zealand prop Morgan Mitchell relishing new challenge in Canada Globe_Sports
Read more »
NP View: Horror in New Zealand underscores murderous new threat to the WestExtreme right-wing nationalism, often infused with white supremacy, is a growing threat everywhere
Read more »
New Zealand Police Investigating Possible Mass Shooting At MosqueNew Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said it was a 'serious and evolving situation' in Christchurch.
Read more »
Many reported dead in New Zealand mosque shootingA witness says many people have been killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch.
Read more »
Mass shooting at New Zealand mosque leaves many dead: witnessLen Peneha said he saw a man dressed in black enter the Masjid Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch at about 1:45 p.m. and then heard dozens of shots
Read more »
Police respond to mass shootings at New Zealand mosquesMany people were killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday, a witness said.
Read more »