Tech firms agree to beefed-up watchdog on ‘extremist’ content

Technology giants will provide funding for group with aim to collaborate, and respond more quickly to online threats. A global working group set up by Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Microsoft to remove hardline or violent content online will become an independent watchdog working “to respond quicker and work more collaboratively to prevent” attacks like Christchurch, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday. ‘Christchurch call’ Speaking at a joint news conference with Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Ardern said the organisation would be governed by an operating board made up of company representatives and would have an independent advisory committee composed of government and civil society members. Sandberg said the forum had already shared some 200,000 digital fingerprints, “Because when terrorists try to use one platform, they try to use all the platforms; so when one of us finds them, we can take them down across multiple platforms.” She added that while the fastest-growing messaging platforms were encrypted, Facebook was still able to combat hardline views while aiming to protect users’ privacy. President Emmanuel Macron of France, which has faced challenges combating fighters inspired by the ISIL armed group, has teamed up with Ardern on the so-called “Christchurch Call.” He co-chaired a meeting with Ardern on the latest efforts as they both attended the UN General Assembly.