I blogged about the Christchurch Call, a document being promoted by the New Zealand and French governments, to supposedly remove “extremist” content from the internet. Its call for shutting down terrorist social media is sensible. And, if you read the media, that’s all you would know about it.
The actual document however is long and contains some odd entries. The media is playing up Trump’s refusal to get on board.
Here’s one of the odder ones that should highlight why that was the right decision.
Respect, and for Governments protect, human rights, including by avoiding directly or indirectly contributing to adverse human rights impacts through business activities and addressing such impacts where they occur.
What does this actually mean?
This has nothing to do with the stated purpose of the document. It could be read as urging governments to avoid engaging in development that violates human rights. Even though this has nothing to do with the mosque shootings or the internet. It could also be read as supportive of BDS.
It’s hard to know because, like most of the Call, the terms are vague, the exhortation is positive, but it’s never clear what the bottom line is.
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