Urgent need to curb racial harassment online Online media continues to be a growing space for racial harassment, with the Human Rights Commission receiving reports of harmful speech and racially offensive content posted on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as blogs, online discussion forums and comment boards. What makes online media such a prime place for racial bullying is that information is easy to create and disemminate and the author can often remain anonymous. Even when alerted, some website hosts and Internet service providers fail to remove or moderate clearly offensive material. MP Richard Prosser © APN/M Mitchell Greater attention needs to be given to combating racially offensive content online, this includes news media taking greater responsibility for bullying or hateful comments posted on their news sites. Mr Prosser apologised for his comments and was graciously invited to the home of a Muslim family who informed him about their religion and culture. Hindu community condemns Kali caricature A caricature of the Hindu goddess Kali published in a New Zealand Herald column was inappropriate and offensive to many in the Indian community. The illustration accompanied an article about dairy owners, showing Goddess Kali holding amongst other things a packet of cigarettes. Members of the Hindu community contacted the Race Relations Commissioner and the New Zealand Press Council saying that trivialisation of the Hindu goddess was disrespectful and insensitive. Responding to the incident, Dame Susan Devoy said that mainstream media needed to demonstrate greater awareness around the sensitivities of what is sacred to people of different religions and cultures and that editors needed to make a real effort to represent all communities respectfully. Following community feedback, the illustration was pulled from the newspaper’s website. The newspaper also accepted an invitation for the writer of the article to participate in a panel discussion on media and religion at the New Zealand Diversity Forum. 58 In 2013, a Harmful Digital Communications Bill was introduced to Parliament setting out a range of measures to combat cyber-bullying and digital harassment. Under the proposed new laws, those responsible for harmful digital communications could receive up to three months in jail or a $2000 fine. Courts would have the power to order individuals, Internet service providers and social media sites to remove or correct harmful material, apologise, give complainants a right of reply, and disclose the identity of anonymous sources. The Law Commission undertook a comprehensive review of media regulation in the digital age, recommending that a single, independent watchdog for print, broadcasting and online news be introduced. The Government opted not to implement its recommendations. The issue of racial harassment via the Internet was identified during its Universal Periodic Review of human rights. The UN Human Rights Council has recommended New Zealand take action to develop a legislative framework for addressing incitement to racial hatred on the Internet. What you can do – guidelines from the Human Rights Commission if you come across offensive material: 1. If you feel personally threatened by the comments, contact the Police. 2. Report the material to the social media organisation involved (Facebook, YouTube etc) using the site’s own reporting system. 3. If nothing happens through the site’s own process, contact your internet service provider. 4. For further advice on reporting or challenging offensive online comment, see www.netsafe.org.nz.