ACMA investigating Christchurch attack broadcasts

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has commenced an investigation into whether broadcasts of Friday's harrowing livestreamed Christchurch terrorist attack breached broadcast regulations.

The investigation will focus on Australian television broadcasts of footage from the perpetrator-filmed attack on a Christchurch mosque, which has so far left 50 people dead and a further 34 hospitalised.

As part of its investigation, ACMA will contact the CEOs of Australia's major broadcasters to request urgent information of the nature, extent and timing of the broadcast of content from the livestreamed footage.

But most broadcasters worldwide have only published snippets of the content related to the attack available online. As well as the attack itself, the perpetrator behind the attacks had reportedly advertised his intentions beforehand on the website 8chan, and published a widely read manifesto outlining his motivations.

ACMA's regulatory purview does not currently extend to content made available or linked on broadcasters' websites.

But the regulator said in a statement that it is concerned about the nature of this content, and plans to meet with broadcasting industry organisations Free TV Australia and the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association to discuss whether the current rules are sufficient to protect Australian audiences.

Image courtesy NASA/JPL/NGIA

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