(Sydney Morning Herald) Australia’s eSafety commissioner will be able to order internet providers to block websites hosting terrorist content under comprehensive rules developed in the wake of the livestreamed Christchurch attack last year.
The new protocol will be invoked during crises where graphic terrorist content is being shared online, with the commissioner able to designate sites to be blacklisted by providers including Telstra, Foxtel, Optus, TPG, Vodafone and Vocus.
Following the mass murder of Muslim worshippers in Christchurch last March, individual internet providers voluntarily blocked sites hosting the alleged attacker’s viral video. At the time, there was no uniform legal basis for taking that step and the telcos have sought clarity on how to deal with future incidents.
