(NZ Herald) A new dedicated team will target violent extremist content online and prosecute those uploading it, filling a gap that was laid bare following the March 15 terrorist attack.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin announced $17 million over four years for the new team during a press conference in Parliament today.
Ardern has previously talked about how the March 15 attack exposed the flaws in New Zealand’s domestic legislation and capability.
While the voluntary guidelines in the Christchurch Call would have a bigger and more immediate global impact, she has said that New Zealand laws and capability also needed to be changed.
Previously the 13 investigators in the Department of Internal Affairs’ censorship compliance unit has focused on child abuse and exploitation images, and only looked at online violent extremism at the expense of this work.
