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Footage from the Christchurch terrorist video appears in a new Netflix documentary drama, but his view in New Zealand will not be blocked.
Netflix’s social dilemma. Source: Supplied
Rather than remove the scene or block it in New Zealand, the media company agreed to modify The Social Dilemma’s rating to include a new warning.
The Social Dilemma is a new documentary-drama that examines the impact of social media in the world. It was released on Netflix worldwide last week and is currently in the top 10 most popular shows in New Zealand.
In the first 10 minutes of the film, it shows footage from the Christchurch terrorist’s live broadcast from March 15, 2019. Fifty-one people were killed when the terrorist carried out hate-filled shootings at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Center that day.
The footage used in the documentary shows the shooter picking up his firearms, including a close-up of the writing on his weapons. and the seconds before he opened fire on a man at the entrance of the mosque. The victim is blurred and censored.
The full live stream was declared objectionable by the chief censor; Possession or distribution remains a crime in New Zealand.
But Netflix will not have to censor clips from its new movie, declining to comment when contacted by 1 NEWS.
COMPLAINT LEADS TO CHANGES
Chief Censor David Shanks says they received a complaint about the docu-drama from a “very concerned” member of the public last week.
“I watched [The] The documentary and Social Dilemma thought it had merit, but was concerned that we currently have a particularly vulnerable population in relation to this category of material, “he told 1 NEWS today.
“The survivors and relatives of those who were targeted have only recently worked through the sentencing process.”
The terrorist was sentenced to life in prison without parole just over two weeks before the movie was released on Netflix.
The docu-drama was originally rated for ages seven and up, but Shanks says it was changed after his recommendation.
It is now rated 13+ and contains a warning, also recommended by Shanks: “Violence, including brief images from the Christchurch terror attacks, suicide references and content that may be disturbing.”
The rating message seen on Netflix’s The Social Dilemma. Source: Netflix
“I also suggested that another option would be to delete the clip,” says Shanks.
The clip remains in the movie and the warning message is small, it appears briefly in the upper corner of the screen when the docu-drama begins to play.
It also appears at the bottom of the About Movie page.
For now, Netflix and other overseas streaming services can set their own ratings. Shank says that in the future they will be covered by the New Zealand classification system thanks to a recent law change.
He says he appreciates Netflix changing the rating.
“If a New Zealand company had produced the documentary, we would also have asked them to show the warning that Netflix is using now.”
Netflix declined to comment when contacted by 1 NEWS, even on whether it felt the warnings were sufficient.
TALK TO SOMEONE – NETSAFE
Netsafe CEO Martin Cocker says anyone bothered by content should speak to someone.
“Each person will react differently to annoying content online. Some people may be confused, have trouble sleeping, or even get angry,” he says.
People can call or text the toll-free helpline Need to talk? in 1737.
“If you find other offensive content online related to the Christchurch attacks, you can report it to Netsafe,” says Cocker.
While the entire video from the livestream is an illegal post, it doesn’t mean the media can’t use excerpts or photos from it, Shanks says.
“However, keep in mind that edited clips, screenshots or still images taken from the entire video, depicting scenes of violence, injury or death, or promoting terrorism, may also be objectionable,” he says.
“Given the horrific circumstances of this attack, and the deliberate strategy of using a live broadcast to spread a terrorist message, we urge the media to carefully consider the impact of sharing, broadcasting or posting any part of this video.”
The video was originally streamed live on Facebook on March 15, 2019, and has been republished in various forms on social media in recent months.
Earlier this year, a “meme” version of the video it was only removed from Instagram after the New Zealand police intervention.
Facebook says it has removed more than 4.5 million versions of the video since it was first streamed.
1 NEWS has chosen not to reproduce The Social Dilemma images in this article.
Additional reporting on this story by Rebecca Moore.
