Australia To Block Access To Extremist Websites

From the office of Australian PM Scott Morrison:

Websites hosting harmful and extreme content from terrorists will be blocked by the Morrison Government in the latest measure to keep Australians safe online.

The Government has accepted the recommendation of the Taskforce to Combat Terrorist and Extreme Violent Material Online to establish a clear and unambiguous content blocking framework for crisis events.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this action would protect Australians from exposure to violent events online like the Christchurch terrorist attacks. “The shocking events that took place in Christchurch demonstrated how digital platforms and websites can be exploited to host extreme violent and terrorist content,” the Prime Minister said.

“That type of abhorrent material has no place in Australia and we are doing everything we can to deny terrorists the opportunity to glorify their crimes, including taking action locally and globally.”

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the Government was taking strong action to ensure extremist content of any description, does not gain a foothold anywhere in our country, including online.

“Our Government has really been leading the charge on combatting this scourge and this is another important step to ensure all Australians, of all ages, can feel safe at home and at work,” Minister Dutton said.

What constitutes “extremist” has not been specified.

RELATED: Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google, and 17 nations have signed onto a nonbinding pledge to crack down on extremist online content. The Trump administration declined to join the coalition, citing free speech concerns.