A new campaign is urging the Government to regulate online platforms and hold tech companies accountable for harmful content.
The #NoHarmware campaign, launched by Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand and Inclusive Aotearoa Collective Tāhono, highlights problems such as bullying, racism, deepfakes, scams and livestreamed violence. Organisers say these issues are fuelled by platforms designed to maximise engagement, even when that means harmful material spreads.
“Presentations to the Education and Workforce Select Committee this week showed the chilling depth of harm occurring,” said Jacqui Dillon from Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand. “The nature of this harm requires solutions that go to the heart of the problem – where platforms are being designed to promote high engagement content regardless of the harm.”
“It’s time to hold online platforms responsible for the harm they knowingly cause through the design of their platforms, and in the way content is promoted or censored,” said Anjum Rahman of Inclusive Aotearoa Collective Tāhono. “They are monetising our content, and we need to ensure that the burden of dealing with these issues doesn’t fall on communities. They need to be transparent about the impact of algorithms, machine learning and use of AI.”
The campaign calls for a legal framework for online safety that includes transparency and accountability measures, a duty of care, independent oversight and penalties for non-compliance.
Organisers stress that any regulation must be developed in partnership with Māori and reflect Te Tiriti o Waitangi. They warn that New Zealand is falling behind countries such as Australia, the UK and the EU, which already have online safety laws.
A website and resources to support the campaign went live on Thursday, 11 September. Supporters are encouraged to contact MPs, write to Minister Erica Stanford and raise awareness in their communities. More information is available at noharmware.nz.
