New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, gave a powerful speech in that country’s parliament today expressing solidarity with the victims of Friday’s terrorist attack that left 50 dead and dozens injured. Ardern also had strong words for the social media companies that enabled the shooter to broadcast his massacre around the world.
“We will look at the role that social media played and what steps we can take, including on the international stage and in unison with our partners,” Ardern said. The prime minister acknowledged that social media alone wasn’t responsible for the shooting, but argued that it did play a role.
“There is no question that ideas and language of division and hate have existed for decades. But the form of distribution, the tools of organization, they are new.”
Ardern promised a thorough investigation to ensure that a massacre like the one in Christchurch never happens again and said that there will be a “frank examination” of New Zealand’s gun laws. The prime minister promised she will never utter the shooter’s name in order to deprive him of the notoriety he so desperately wanted.
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Source: New Zealand’s Prime Minister Says Social Media Can’t Be ‘All Profit, No Responsibility’