Horizon Research

Media release

May 14, 2019

Kiwis say stop live-streaming terror until there is a fix

New Zealanders want social media to stop live streaming services until they have ways of immediately screening out violent or other harmful content.

As the Prime Minister prepares to meet world leaders and social media executives to discuss controlling violent content, New Zealanders are making it clear what they want.

A Horizon Research poll finds 54% of adults want live streaming to stop until social media platform owners have implemented ways of immediately screening out violent or other harmful content. That is the equivalent of around 1,727, 400 people.

According to the April 15-28 nationwide survey of 1,134 adults only 7% agree (around 223,900 people) that current laws governing what can be live streamed and posted on social media platforms and online are adequate.

In contrast nearly five times more (32%) think current laws are inadequate.

Only 11% agree Facebook and other social media platforms should not be responsible for what users stream or post on social media, while 14% agree the New Zealand government should not be able to mandate what can be streamed or posed on social media.

The March 15, 2019, terrorist attack in Christchurch was streamed live on Facebook, which later had to remove more than 1 million re-posts of the content, which can still be found on Facebook and elsewhere online.

Doing as Australia does:

After the attack the Australian government passed a new law requiring social media to remove violent content quickly or face large fines and jail terms.

The poll finds more than 1.1 million, or 35% of adults, agree the New Zealand Parliament should pass new laws banning live streaming and posting of violent and harmful content and impose large fines and jail terms on social media platforms and their managers if they fail to comply.

Stop live streaming till there’s a fix – by party vote:

By party vote at the 2017 general election, the highest support for stopping live streaming until ways of immediately screening out violent content are found is among National voters (63%).

60% of Green, 58% of Labour and 42% of New Zealand First voters agree. Just 18% of ACT voters agree. 70% of ACT voters agree the government should not be able to control what can be streamed or posted on social media.

The survey was of the survey of 1,134 adults nationwide between April 15-28. The results are weighted by age, gender, employment status, educational qualifications and party vote. At a 95% confidence level, the maximum margin of error is +/- 2.9%).

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