The logos of mobile apps, Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Netflix, are displayed on a screen in this illustration picture taken on Dec 3, 2019.WELLINGTON - Big tech companies agreed on Monday to reduce harmful online content in New Zealand, making a move that critics said dodged the alternative of government regulation.
The companies would follow the code as self-regulation, Netsafe chief Brent Carey said in a statement. Industry lobby group NZTech will be responsible for the companies meeting obligations, which include reducing harmful content online, reporting how they do that and supporting independent evaluation of results.
Meta and TikTok said in statements they were enthusiastic about the code making online platforms safer and more transparent.Interest groups want more detail, however - for example, about sanctions for any failure by the companies to comply and about a mechanism for public complaints.