NZ-France to co-chair Christchurch Call Leaders’ Summit

New Zealand and France will jointly convene the Christchurch Call Community for a leaders’ summit, to take stock of progress and develop a new shared priority work plan.

It has been announced that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron will co-chair the leaders’ meeting on the second anniversary of the Call, on 14 May NZT, bringing together leaders across Call supporting governments, tech companies and civil society.  

Ardern said: “We expect the Call Community to refine its focus, redouble its efforts, and agree to a priority work plan for the year ahead. The inaugural Christchurch Call Community Consultation report provides the foundation for this work.

“Among the priorities I would like to see progressed is a strengthened collective ability to manage crises related to terrorist and violent extremist content online. I would like to see us grow our shared understanding of algorithmic processes that have the potential to cause harm, or to radicalise or incite to acts of terrorism and violent extremism. And to develop positive interventions to address these.”  

Both leaders have also jointly welcomed the United States’ decision to formally join the Christchurch Call to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online, with Arden and Macron saying in a joint statement that the US’ support to the Call would send a powerful message to those who would seek to exploit the internet to promote terrorism and violent extremism.

Ardern continued: “The US Government’s support recognises the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to an issue that increasingly transcends borders, ideologies and nationalities, and the ability of any one group or country to address on their own. It also recognises the importance of protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms online.

“The major US tech companies are supporters of the Call, and having the US Government on board will further strengthen actions to reduce the risk of the internet being used as a tool for terrorists. Many attacks since Christchurch, including in the United States, bear witness to the challenges we face.”