Facebook Restricts Live-Streaming Following Attacks

By WSJ City 

Facebook said it would stop people who have recently posted terrorist propaganda from broadcasting live video on its service.

KEY FACTS

--- This is Facebook's response to pressure to dial back live-streaming after it was used to broadcast the attack in New Zealand.

--- The company said it would impose a "one-strike" rule, blocking people who have violated certain rules.

--- This includes restrictions on posting terrorist content, which could lead to a 30-day live-streaming ban.

--- Change comes ahead of a summit in Paris on Wednesday called the "Christchurch Call", where Facebook, Google and Youtube will meet.

--- The Christchurch Call is a joint venture of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron.

--- A draft of the call includes a pledge from social-media companies to reduce the risk that anyone can use live-streaming to broadcast extremist content.

Why This Matters

Live-streaming terrorist content is the latest issue tech companies have to confront, as they are under growing pressure on a number of other points. The EU recently passed a copyright directive that imposes new restrictions and obligations on big internet companies. After several investigations into whether tech giants are violating competition rules, some politicians and others are calling for them to be broken up.

A fuller story is available on WSJ.com

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 15, 2019 07:56 ET (11:56 GMT)

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