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TikTok is one of several major social media platforms that have approved a new code of conduct in Aotearoa, dubbed “the first of its kind.”
Social media giants, including TikTok and Meta, will soon become more responsible for the content on their platforms in New Zealand, voluntarily signing up to a Netsafe-led code of conduct that focuses on things like hate speech and misinformation.
The Aotearoa Code of Practice for Online Safety and Harms obliges the companies – Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Google (YouTube), TikTok, Amazon (Twitch) and Twitter – to actively reduce harmful content on their digital platforms and services in the country .
If the public believes a company has violated the new code, they can file a complaint, which could lead to sanctions, including a request to leave the agreement.
Each company must also publish annual reports on progress in complying with the Code, which focuses on their systems, policies, processes and tools to reduce the spread of harmful contentrather than replacing current laws or regulations.
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The seven topics covered include sexual exploitation and abuse of children, bullying or harassment, hate speech, incitement to violence, violent or explicit content, misinformation and disinformation.
Netsafe CEO Brent Carey described the code as a “world first”.
“Having this code, which fills some of the regulatory gaps, is a good first step in trying to address some of these emerging issues, especially around hate speech, misinformation and misinformation,” Carey said.
Richard Drew/AP
Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Google (YouTube), TikTok, Amazon (Twitch) and Twitter have joined the new code of conduct. (File photo)
The livestream of the Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019, the following Christchurch Calland the occupation around the grounds of Parliamentdriven in part by misinformation on social media, all played a part in getting the changes.
The New Zealand code comes as countries around the world begin to enact legislation to curb such internet behaviour.
New Zealand also got the ball rolling over legislative changes and this voluntary code would stand next to that, he said.
RNZ
Research by the internet watchdog Netsafe shows that almost a third of New Zealanders have shared fake news stories or incorrect information with others. (Video first published in August 2020)
The creation of the code has previously been criticized by several groups, including Tohatoha NZ, InternetNZ and the Inclusive Aotearoa Collective Tāhono, who argued that a lack of significant community involvement could lead to it abandoning the people it set out to help. would let.
“We remain disappointed with the process of getting here, which started with online services rather than communities,” Interim InternetNZ CEO Andrew Cushen said on Sunday.
Tohatoha CEO Mandy Henk said the code looked like a social media-led attempt to “claim legitimacy without doing the work to earn it”.
“In our view, this is a feeble attempt to anticipate regulation – in New Zealand and abroad – by promoting an industry-led model that avoids the real change and real accountability that is needed.”
The code was discussed over a 10-week period, and Netsafe said the feedback contained a mix of supportive and constructive criticism, including 34 unique responses and 4,767 template letters.
In the next phase, NZTech, as administrator of the agreement, will design how it will work and how the public can complain when they thought there was a violation.
NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller said the code would be changed twice a year.
“We hope that the governance framework will enable it to evolve with local conditions, while respecting fundamental rights of freedom of expression.”
The agreement builds on other international codes of practice, such as the EU Code of Practice on Disinformation, the EU Code of Conduct on Combating Illegal Online Hate Speech and the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation.
Last year, Netsafe revealed that the number of reports of harmful digital communications had increased by 24% in one year, and a recent survey from the organization found that one in five adults and twice as many youth in Aotearoa received a digital communications that will change their lives. 2020 negatively affected.