The government has announced the end of taxpayer funding for the Christchurch Call, effective June 30.
The decision comes as the controversial initiative transitions support functions to a new, privately funded Secretariat under the ‘Christchurch Call Foundation’, set to begin operations on July 1.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and co-founder French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled the Christchurch Call Foundation in a joint statement today, a non-governmental organisation aimed at continuing the initiative’s work to ‘eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online’.
Jacinda Ardern will become patron of the new foundation.
The announcement has done little to quell growing skepticism about the effectiveness and motives of the Christchurch Call.
Critics have long argued that the Christchurch Call represents an overreach in internet regulation and a potential threat to free speech. Tech entrepreneur and vocal critic Kim Dotcom stated, ‘The Christchurch Call is just another way for governments to exert control over the internet under the guise of safety. It’s a slippery slope towards censorship.’
Glenn Greenwald, a journalist known for his work on government surveillance, has warned of the broader implications. ‘Efforts like the Christchurch Call, while well-intentioned, often lead to increased censorship and surveillance, affecting not just extremists but anyone who challenges the status quo.’
Global civil society alliance CIVICUS also criticised the Christchurch Call for being an abject failure when it came to engagement with civil society.
Despite the funding cut Luxon and Macron remained committed to the initiative.
The Christchurch Call has built a global community to fight online extremism, and our commitment remains firm,’ stated Macron.
However, the transition to a privately funded model has raised further questions about accountability and transparency. With philanthropic private donors now backing the initiative, some fear that corporate interests might unduly influence its direction and priorities.
Revolting in every sense and in no way democratic. Where’s the oversight on something that’s been privately funded to undertake surveillance of New Zealanders? Whats it got to do with France, who have a track record of colonialism and if I’m not incorrect, the only nation to undertake an act of terrorism within New Zealand (Rainbow Warrior) Image if I set up an entity to do what they propose. Chances are I’d be arrested and in my view, rightly so.
All this really attests to, I believe, is the hatred the globalist establishment feels for free speech and freedom of expression. Especially when they are negatively speaking, the subject of that expression. They want the Overton Window not just locked shut but boarded over, with a barb wire fence surrounding it.
If you don’t care about your rights keep voting globalist. I know where I stand and its not in favour of this kind of reprehensible behaviour.
Too right!
If they really want to “eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.” Why were they not seeing to it during covid that almost all our politicians Suffered consequences for spreading Misinformation and Disinformation. This is just a back door approach to censoring those who do not care for the globalist narrative.
I do Not Consent to anything being pushed by the globalists or their puppets now or in the future.
Probably all about censure. Macron already asked rumble to censure content.
That was refused by rumble. So rumble is not available any more in France ( forbidden), but it is in the netherlands ( and probably the rest of europe).
Any alliance with macron is toxic
The people in France and Europe are using VPN’s.
Macron is a twit.
Everyone who is concerned with censorship does/should use a VPN, freedom is not free.
Blackrock and Darth Soros will be pumping money into it shortly, no doubt.
NGO = dark money. It’s a way around legislative government.
NGO indeed dark money. They worms themselves into country under ” humanitarian” or ” democratic” pretexts To destabilise and undermine governments that were chosen by the population. And install globalists’ puppets.
Will the ‘funding/donations’ be tax deductible? if yes then we will still be paying for it but with no control on the amount of funding or scope.
When is this corporate puppet going to get her hand out of our pocket?
Everyone who is doing it hard at the moment, Ardern is to blame.
Everyone who is paying higher interest rates, Ardern is to blame.
Everyone who is paying higher rent, Ardern is to blame.
Everyone who has died from the jabs, Ardern is to blame.
Everyone who has lost their job, Ardern is to blame.
Everyone who has lost customers, Ardern is to blame.
Everyone who is paying too much for groceries, Ardern is to blame.
Ardern’s “Be kind” is a false flag.
Ardern knowingly allowed the vax that was nether safe nor effective.
Ardern ordered the police to bash the peaceful protesters.
NZ owes 100 billion. Ardern is to blame.
Ardern should never be let anywhere near the public’s money ever again.
Feel free to add to this fact list.
Arden is to blame for the loss time spent with family which can never be retrieved.
Ardern is to blame for people to see loved ones and relatives on their death bed.
Ardern is to blame for the scaremongering to push people to flee.
I didn’t see this post before. Very accurate comments from all contributors.