US to Join New Zealand-Led Global Campaign to Stamp Out Violent Extremism Online

The United States will join a New Zealand-led global campaign to stamp out violent extremism online, making a policy change two years after the administration of former president Donald Trump declined to participate. Biden administration spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement yesterday that, the US would join the Christchurch Call to Action to Eliminate Terrorist and Violent Extremist Content Online.

 

She added that, countering the use of the internet by terrorists and violent extremists to radicalise and recruit is a significant priority for the United States. New Zealand PM Ardern



said today that the US had been a constructive, engaged partner on many Call-related issues since its launch and the announcement was a formalisation of that relationship and a commitment for us to work even more closely.

 

Psaki added in the statement, the US cited free speech protections when it declined to join the campaign in 2019, and will not take steps that would violate the freedoms of speech and association protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, nor violate reasonable expectations of privacy. Psaki said the US will participate in a virtual summit on May 14th.