Tech firms are scrambling to keep dozens of copies of videos showing the New Zealand mosque shootings off their platforms

Shona Ghosh/Business Insider

Facebook, Google and Twitter are playing whack-a-mole with distressing footage that appears to show Friday’s mass shooting at two mosques in New Zealand.
The original video is thought to have been posted to Facebook by a man identifying himself as Brenton Tarrant. The footage was deleted by the social network.
That hasn’t stopped other users ripping the video and uploading it both to Facebook and other sites such as Twitter and YouTube.
Business Insider found the video on Facebook and YouTube by typing a misspelling of Tarrant’s name.
New Zealand police have yet to name any suspects, and the problem shows how hard it is for big tech firms to keep up with moderating content around distressing, newsworthy incidents.

Facebook, Google, Twitter and other major tech firms are battling to keep distressing footage of a gunman firing on two mosques in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, from appearing on their platforms.

The attack took place on Friday, with at least 49 people dead and 49 injured after the mass shooting.

You can read the full story here.

As yet, New Zealand police have not named the suspected perpetrator or perpetrators.

A man identifying himself as 28-year-old Australian Brenton Tarrant is thought to have posted a livestream of himself carrying out the attacks.

That footage was posted to Facebook. Accounts linked to Tarrant also shared a 74-page document on white supremacist themes seeking to justify the attack.

New Zealand police have asked the public not to share distressing video related to the shootings.

Facebook told INSIDER on Friday morning that it had removed the original livestream, and the account it was posted from. It has also deleted an Instagram account.

Twitter likewise suspended Tarrant’s account.

The Huffington Post reported that the document was first posted to the online messaging board 8chan and Tarrant’s now-suspended Twitter account.

Deletion hasn’t prevented others from ripping and uploading new versions of the video and manifesto.

Business Insider was easily able to find the video reposted to YouTube and Facebook from other accounts. Each video had a warning of graphic content attached, but that doesn’t prevent anyone from clicking through and watching the footage.

We were also able to find links to Tarrant’s extremist manifesto through Twitter and Google.

Shona Ghosh/Business Insider/YouTube

Part of the issue is that users are getting around social media moderation with minor manipulation of search terms.

They are, for example, uploading Tarrant’s manifesto and livestreamed footage and captioning it with a misspelled version of his name.

Google removed the reposted video after it was flagged by Business Insider. Facebook acknowledged a version of the video found on its site by Business Insider.

Facebook spokeswoman Mia Garlick said: "Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and the community affected by this horrendous act. New Zealand Police alerted us to a video on Facebook shortly after the livestream commenced and we quickly removed both the shooter’s Facebook and Instagram accounts and the video.

"We’re also removing any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon as we’re aware. We will continue working directly with New Zealand Police as their response and investigation continues."

Facebook is using a mix of technology, user reports, and human reviewers to catch videos or other violating content related to the incident.

Twitter confirmed it was proactively taking down copies of the video. A spokeswoman said: "We are deeply saddened by the shootings in Christchurch today. Twitter has rigorous processes and a dedicated team in place for managing exigent and emergency situations such as this. We also cooperate with law enforcement to facilitate their investigations as required."

A Google spokeswoman said: "Our hearts go out to the victims of this terrible tragedy. Shocking, violent and graphic content has no place on our platforms, and is removed as soon as we become aware of it. As with any major tragedy, we will work cooperatively with the authorities."

Social media firms are not the only ones under fire. Newspaper websites including MailOnline, The Sun, and the Daily Mirror were criticised for hosting parts of Tarrant’s manifesto, or edited footage of the original livestream.

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