On 15 March 2019, a terrorist attacked two mosques in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand, killing 51 people and injuring 50. The horrific event was live-streamed by the terrorist for 17 minutes and was viewed over 4,000 times before being removed. This terrorist attack made clear, once again, the harms that can be caused by terrorist and violent extremist content online. It highlighted an issue that transcends borders and platforms, and it was the catalyst for global action.
On 15 May 2019, two months to the day after the attack, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron brought together heads of state and government, along with leaders from the technology sector, to create the Christchurch Call: a commitment by governments and online service providers to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.
A number of civil society groups from around the world came together to draft a response to the Call, pointing out areas of concern for human rights and a free, open, and secure internet. The Christchurch Call Advisory Network (CCAN) formed in the summer of 2019, following informal engagement by some groups with the founding governments of France and New Zealand.
CCAN exists as part of the Christchurch Call to provide expert advice on implementing the commitments in the Call in a manner consistent with a free, open, and secure internet and with international human rights law. CCAN balances a spectrum of civil society, internet governance, and human rights concerns, including the right to be free from deprivation of life and incitement to violence, as well as the right to free expression. CCAN accomplishes its work through meaningful collaboration with governments, civil society organisations, and private sector actors.
In 2024, the governments of New Zealand and France announced that the Call secretariat would transition into a new, non-government organisation: The Christchurch Call Foundation. More details about the Foundation can be found on their website.
