Körero Whakamauähara : Hate Speech
In his 2018 report to the United Nations (UN) Human
Rights Council, Special Rapporteur David Kaye
addressed this challenge by proposing a human rightscentred framework for the moderation of online
content.50 This included a recommendation that States
introduce “smart” regulation that meets international
human rights standards concerning the right to freedom
of expression while focusing on transparency and
remediation by companies providing online platforms.51
He also recommended that:52
Following the events of March 15 this year, the Prime
Minister has initiated the “Christchurch Call”. This is
an action plan that commits participating international
Heads of State, Governments and leaders from the
tech sector to eliminate terrorist and extremist content
online. The Christchurch Call covers a range of
measures including the development of tools to prevent
the upload of terrorist and violent extremist content,
increased transparency around the removal and
detection of content and reviewing the algorithms used
to detect problematic material.53
companies should recognize that the authoritative
global standard for ensuring freedom of expression
on their platforms is human rights law, not the
varying laws of States or their own private interests,
and they should re-evaluate their content standards
accordingly.
50
51
52
53
Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, UN
Doc A/HRC/38/35, (6 April 2018) at [2].
Ibid., at [66].
ibid, para 70
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, “Christchurch Call to Eliminate Terrorist & Violent Extremist Content Online”,
<https://www.christchurchcall.com/>.
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