Twitter’s automated reporting function failed to detect the upload of Christchurch mosque terror attack videos

Twitter’s automated reporting function failed to detect the upload of Christchurch mosque terror attack videos

Newly uploaded footage of the Christchurch terrorist attack circulating on Twitter has been taken down, but only after the New Zealand government alerted the company, which had failed to recognize the content as harmful.

According to the office of the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, the video clips, filmed by the Australian who murdered 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch in 2019, were uploaded by some Twitter users on Saturday.

The content wasn’t flagged as harmful by Twitter’s automated reporting system, according to a spokesperson for the prime minister.

Other users reported the videos, and the government raised it separately with Twitter, according to the office.

The office of the prime minister said, “Twitter advised us overnight that the clips have been taken down and said they would do a sweep for other instances.”