The initiative to mobilize governments and online service providers against terrorist propaganda and extremist dialogs has made inroads here.
In March 2019, a terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, went viral after being ‘live’- streamed on social media. In response, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron held the Christchurch Call summit in May of the same year, aiming to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.
This week, LINE Corporation—known for its messaging platform—announced that it has become the first Asia-based company to join the Christchurch Call, an initiative that brings together governments and online service providers together for a peaceful cause.
The Call’s founders—New Zealand and France—officially welcomed LINE to the initiative, joining the other countries and online service providers supporting the pledge. As a signatory, the company will uphold the principles of the Christchurch Call and strengthen its cooperation with supporting governments, companies and other stakeholders to develop technologies and policies that prevent the upload and spread of harmful content online.
Said the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern: “LINE’s inclusion demonstrates a shared sense of responsibility and respect for rights and freedoms on the internet, ensuring it remains free, open and secure, as we work collectively to combat the use of the internet for terrorist and violent extremist ends.”
France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, noted: “The international and multi-stakeholder nature of the Christchurch Call benefits from the participation of all governments, companies and civil society organizations committing to the principles of a free, open, secure and unified internet.”
As the internet becomes an increasingly-important presence in people’s daily lives, countries all over the world have witnessed terrorism’s rising online specter. LINE aims to prevent the spread of harmful content while respecting freedom of speech across different cultures and ideologies, as well as maintaining neutrality and fairness. With several major upcoming global events that will take place in Japan, the Tokyo-based company decided to close the distance with Oceania and strengthen measures against terrorism by taking up the torch of the Call in Asia.
Going forward, LINE will continue working to prevent the spread of harmful content while ensuring users’ freedom of speech. At the same time, the company will reinforce efforts to clamp down on terrorism and violent extremism and strive to contribute to the global effort to build a free, open and secure internet.
