Since 2021, the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) has been working with the Digital Violent Extremism (DVE) team at the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) to report and remove harmful online content related to the March 15, 2019, Christchurch Mosque terrorist attacks and subsequent copycat attacks. CEP has reported over 625 pieces of content on 18 different websites, social media platforms, and file transfer sites, leading to takedowns and geo-blocking of online content that is illegal in New Zealand under the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993. CEP is proud to make half of the non-governmental organization referrals of potential illegal content to DIA.

According to statistics provided to CEP by the DVE investigation team, CEP has provided 639 pieces of content since 2021, leading to the removal or geo-blocking of 542 URLs through 401 informal requests to platforms sent by the DVE team and 37 formal takedown notices sent by the Department of Internal Affairs. Examples of content included clips from the Christchurch attack video on social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, including clips modified to resemble video games, gamer streams, or the addition of graphics such as white supremacist symbols; the attacker’s manifesto translated into 41 languages using Google Translate and posted on file download sites; and game files for recreating the attack footage in modified videogames including Doom and Roblox. Some content, including on social media, has included calls to commit acts of violence or has specifically promoted violence against Muslims, Arabs, or immigrants. Notably, several white supremacist attackers around the world have cited the Christchurch terrorist, his livestreamed video, or his manifesto as a central part of their radicalization process, including the shooters in Poway, Buffalo, and Bratislava.

Glenn Williams, the Manager of the DIA DVE team, said, 

“Our ongoing trusted relationship with CEP has been integral to the success in removing over 542 URLs that contained illegal imagery and content, often pertaining to the Christchurch terror attacks from being accessed by New Zealanders. We look forward to continuing to work with CEP on our mission to stop the proliferation of objectionable Terrorist & Violent Extremist Content and other illegal material.”

When it comes to the removal of extremist material online, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as CEP, that monitor and search for violent extremist content are sometimes limited in their effectiveness. Takedown requests from governments carry more authority, leading to content removal or geo-blocking. The ability of these NGOs to refer that content to authorities, who determine whether it violates the law, increases the capacity of both entities. Additionally, extremist content that includes threats, especially against specific locations, can be sent to investigating law enforcement agencies. In this way, the partnership between CEP and DIA DVE is about more than just removing online extremist content but an entry point for determining where threats from bad actors seeking to cause harm should go. 

The ongoing cooperation between CEP and DIA DVE is a prime example of how significant improvements in the online environment can be achieved efficiently and effectively. Given the continuing discrepancies in the global regulatory environment for social media, file storage, and web hosting, more such public-private partnerships are needed to stem the harmful spread of violent extremist and terrorist content online. CEP, through its new project, the Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism, and Radicalization (ARCHER) at House 88, domiciled in the former residence of the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, in Auschwitz, Poland, will continue and intensify such cooperation formats with like-minded governments.