Massacre a 'wake-up call' for social media

Tony Abbott is urging social media giants to wake up to themselves and police platforms much more closely after the Christchurch mosque massacre.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott is concerned extremists are free to exist in anonymity on Facebook and other platforms. (AAP)

Former prime minister Tony Abbott believes authorities must "wake up to themselves" and police social media more closely after the Christchurch mosque massacre.

The alleged gunman behind Friday's mass shooting, which was live-streamed on Facebook, used his real name and photograph.

Nonetheless, Mr Abbott is concerned extremists are free to exist in anonymity on Facebook and other platforms.

"You should only be able to go online as yourself, under your real name. We've got to end it, we absolutely have to end it," Mr Abbott told 2GB radio on Monday.

"We've got to clean this thing up otherwise it will do us untold damage."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Bill Shorten have also taken aim at social media companies for not doing enough to ensure the vision of the attack was not republished.


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Source: AAP


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Massacre a 'wake-up call' for social media | SBS News