PM Jacinda Ardern: United States an 'important partner' as it joins the Christchurch Call taking on terrorists and violent extremists
Saturday, 8 May 2021
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has welcomed the United States' decision to join the Christchurch Call.
On Saturday morning (NZ time), the United States announced it was formally joining the Christchurch Call to help eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.
The US Government issued a statement confirming it endorsed the initiative and was formally joining those who were working together to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting the internet.
“Their support signals the importance the United States places on this work,” Ardern said.
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The Christchurch Call is a global pledge to end the spread of extremist content online.
Ardern led the initiative following the mass shooting in Christchurch on March 15, 2019. The non-binding document has been signed by a large group of leaders.
The three-page pledge outlined voluntary commitments from governments and online service providers, intended to address the issue of terrorist and violent extremist content online and to prevent what happened on March 15, from happening again.
On Saturday, Ardern said the US had been a constructive, engaged partner on many call-related issues since its launch.
“This announcement is a formalisation of that relationship and a commitment for us to work even more closely on eliminating terrorist and violent extremist content online.”
She said the call was open to governments and tech companies that can meet its commitments in a manner consistent with international human rights law, fundamental freedoms including freedom of expression, and in support of a free, open and secure internet.
“The United States actively shares and promotes these values and is a critically important partner in shared efforts against terrorism and violent extremism online. Formal US support of the Christchurch Call is a positive extension of this long-held partnership with both New Zealand and France,” she said.
A statement from US Government spokesman Ned Price said the terrible terrorist attacks of March 15, 2019 against houses of worship in Christchurch, New Zealand, and the deplorable depiction in real time of those shootings graphically demonstrated the ability of terrorist and violent extremist online content to incite violence.
“For the United States, countering domestic violent extremism – including racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism – is a compelling priority. We are committed to working closely with international partners who share our values and norms to prevent and counter all forms of terrorism.”
The statement added, that the US continued to believe that promoting credible alternative narratives to expose false terrorist and violent extremist narratives was an important means of countering terrorist and violent extremist content online.
“Put simply, we remain of the view that the preferred way to defeat terrorist and violent extremist speech is more speech: to counter it with credible, alternative narratives that promote rather than restrict free expression.”
Another statement from the White House said the US applauded the language in the Christchurch Call that emphasised the importance of respecting human rights and the rule of law, including the protection of freedom of expression.
“In joining the Christchurch Call, the United States will not take steps that would violate the freedoms of speech and association protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, nor violate reasonable expectations of privacy.”
The statement said the US looked forward to participating in the Christchurch Call second anniversary virtual summit on May 14.