Cross-cutting Issues and Themes
Adapting for new technology
Technology and its use evolve constantly. Right now, for example, there are rapid developments in generative and foundational artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, and the decentralised web. This creates both challenges and opportunities for the Call’s work of eliminating terrorist and violent extremist content online. The Call Community is adapting its work where needed to ensure the Call commitments stay relevant as online environments change.
Call leaders commissioned work on how to support the safe adoption of new online technologies, minimising their exploitation by terrorists and violent extremists. This includes increasing understanding of the challenges presented by new technologies, developing strategies to address those challenges, and preparing the Call Community to counter new types of terrorist and violent extremist content.
Smaller platforms
There is a real risk of terrorist and violent extremist exploitation of smaller platforms. These platforms can encounter challenges when responding to crisis incidents, moderating content, and publishing transparency reports, while also complying with international laws and respecting human rights. Smaller providers may not have the necessary resources, systems and tools to do this effectively. Some smaller platforms also choose to remain unmoderated.
The Call Community is increasing outreach to the tech sector with the objective of increasing awareness, capacity and willingness among smaller platforms to deal with terrorist and violent extremist content. It is also seeking to better understand and to share advice on how the Call commitments can best be advanced in unmoderated spaces online, and looking to support or provide tools that can be utilised by the whole tech industry.
Gender-based hate and violent extremism
There are demonstrated linkages between targeted violence and gender-based hate. The Call Community is looking to deepen the evidence on the role of gender-based extremism online as a contributing factor in violent extremism and terrorism online. Greater understanding of this will inform specific policy responses, and activity across the Call work plan.
It is also seeking to deepen engagement with organisations representing communities impacted by terrorism and violent extremism online, including women, LGBTQIA+ communities, youth, and intersectional communities.
Protecting a free, open and secure internet
The commitment to a free, open and secure internet that respects human rights is the foundation for all work on the Call. The Call Community seeks to actively protect and enhance these principles while delivering on the Call commitments. The complex nature of internet infrastructure and the ongoing development of related technologies make this challenging and important work.
Within the Call Community experts and key actors are working to grow understanding and develop tools to ensure this principle is respected and protected by regulators and online service providers, across activities including transparency reporting, crisis response, and content moderation.
Related issues and initiatives
Governance of online issues is a complex and evolving global effort. While the Call objective is to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content, the Call Community wants to ensure that the Call work complements and contributes to broader tech governance efforts. It does this by sharing information and participating in parallel initiatives on related issues.
The Christchurch Call model involves coordinating action by bringing together governments, online service providers and international organisations with affected communities, civil society, and technical experts.
At their Summit in 2022, Call leaders asked that interested Community members consider how we might apply what we have learned working on the Christchurch Call, where we can support and engage on related initiatives, and where there is multistakeholder interest in new work programmes separate to the Call. They specifically mentioned disinformation; harassment, abuse, and hatred online; and issues affecting youth.
Young people
At the 2022 Summit, Call leaders identified young people as a priority group for the Call Community. They are often early adopters of new technology, are more likely to be exposed to terrorist and violent extremist content, and in some circumstances are more susceptible to online radicalisation.
The Call Community is seeking to engage directly and thoughtfully with children and young people about our actions under the Christchurch Call and reflect their voice in our work.
It is also prioritising outreach to online service providers that serve a younger audience as part of building a multistakeholder community, with a focus on those at the forefront of emerging technologies such as immersive gaming platforms.