Australia officially bans hateful eight websites

Eight websites hosting violent content from the Christchurch massacre will be officially banned in Australia from today, in an attempt to block terrorist material online.

Eight websites hosting violent and disturbing content from the Christchurch massacre will officially be banned in Australia today in the first test of a new scheme to block extreme terrorist material online.

The latest action follows a unilateral move by Australian internet providers to ban 45 websites hosting the footage and the alleged killer’s manifesto after the attack in which 51 unarmed worshippers were murdered.

But most of those websites have since voluntarily removed the footage or links to it as part of Australia’s new “world-first” scheme, which Australian eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said could also stop the recruitment of other terrorists.

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The new online regime will initially see the eSafety Commission issue bans on material from the Christchurch attack, but will be expanded in future to include new crisis protocols in response to similar incidents and a 24/7 Crisis Co-ordination Centre to monitor for extreme terrorist content.

Ms Grant said the scheme would only be used to block the most extreme examples of terrorist and violent acts on the web, including graphic videos captured by perpetrators or their accomplices.

She said blocking this content was important not only to avoid re-traumatising victims’ families and friends, but to prevent the recruitment of other terrorists.

“This is a very high threshold we’re looking at in terms of terrorist content and violent crimes with the purpose of inciting further terrorism,” Ms Grant said.

Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant addressing the National Press Club in Canberra. Picture: Supplied

“We’ve seen both the El Paso shooter and the Chanda synagogue shooter specifically refer to the Christchurch shooter’s manifesto as inspiration for undertaking these acts.

“It is used for the purpose of inciting specific terrorist and violent acts and to go after people from specific communities.”

Ms Grant said four of the remaining 12 websites hosting video or writings from the Christchurch attack removed it after directions from the eSafety Commission.

The remaining eight websites who refused to do so would be blocked for at least another six months, she said, or until their owners deleted access to the damaging material.

The official bans will also protect Australian internet providers, which blocked websites hosting footage of the attack even though they had not been directed to do so.

Brenton Tarrant (C), the man charged in relation to the Christchurch massacre, stands in the dock during his appearance at the Christchurch District Court. Picture: AFP

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hug following the National Remembrance Service for those killed in the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre shooting in Christchurch. Picture: AFP

Federal Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said the companies “acted quickly and responsibly” following the attack, and their future actions would not only be protected but overseen by a specialist body.

“Website blocking is not a universal solution to online harms, but it is important that this option be available to the eSafety Commissioner in extreme cases such as this,” Mr Fletcher said.

“We cannot allow this type of horrific material to be used to incite further violence or terrorist acts.”

Ms Inman Grant said the Commission would not name the eight blocked websites to avoid “potential glorification,” but the decision would be reviewed by the Australian parliament.

Originally published as Australia officially bans hateful eight websites