Australia eyes blocking extremist content

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday announced plans to block websites that spread extremist content during crises.

“The shocking events that took place in Christchurch demonstrated how digital platforms and websites can be exploited to host extreme violent and terrorist content,” Morrison said Sunday while in Biarritz, France, for the Group of Seven (G-7) economic summit.

“That type of abhorrent material has no place in Australia and we are doing everything we can to deny terrorists the opportunity to glorify their crimes, including taking action locally and globally.”

The details: Australia’s eSafety commissioner will now have authority to quickly shut down domains hosting terrorist or extreme violent material.

The government is also creating a protocol which will include a “24/7 Crisis Coordination” center to monitor and notify relevant government agencies of online crisis events.

Morrison linked the measures to the shootings that killed 51 worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, earlier this year. The suspected shooter livestreamed the killings and had posted a racist screed on online messaging boards before the attack.