The Technology of Terror: Countering Extremism Online

The viral spread of the ‘livestream video’ of the horrific murder of 51 innocents at a mosque in Christchurch City on 15 March shocked the world.  The calculated way in which the killings were livestreamed to Facebook, spread to other networks such as Youtube and twitter, and modified by supporters to evade detection left no doubt – social media was being weaponised. Other killers have subsequently followed suit, aiming to use social media algorithms to spread and accelerate their message of violent hatred. As New Zealand’s Chief Censor, David Shanks and his team were on the front line of responding to the unprecedented media harm caused by this terror attack and the livestream. The ripples from the tragedy in Christchurch are turning into waves internationally as the calls for change grow ever louder. David draws on his personal experience with extremist material to explore what this will mean for all of us, as governments and digital giants urgently strive to find the balance between freedom and protection online.