NetSafe responds to call for cyber-bullying mediator
Significant upscaling required if selected.
There will be significant upscaling required if NetSafe is chosen as the government's Approved Agency for resolving cyber-bullying complaints under the new Harmful Communications Bill, chief executive Martin Cocker says.
A call for expressions of interest to become the selected agency was sent out from Justice Minister Amy Adams' office this week, attracting the internet watchdog's attention.
The agency will mediate offending parties and victims, as well as having direct contact with teams behind sites like Facebook and Twitter, which often leave complaints from members of the public falling on deaf ears.
NetSafe, which identifies as “New Zealand’s only active cyber safety organisation,” will apply for the role after recommendations from the Law Commission – but with a small team, new resources will be needed, Mr Cocker says.
“We won’t be able to do it at our current size,” he says. “This is a new service, which means someone’s going to have to add some capability somewhere."
Mr Cocker says the non-profit organisation has played a significant role in the introduction of the new law and believes it will be able to act as an unbiased mediator if selected. "The act clearly identifies an objective to address seriously harmful content. There will be a series of thresholds applied to the approved agency but maintaining independence is part of the system," he says.
A spokesperson for Ms Adams' office said applications would guide the next steps in the selection process. The agency’s appointment would “set a new benchmark for curbing online harassment and intimidation that causes serious emotional distress.”
It is unclear whether having the Law Commission’s backing will boost NetSafe’s chances of being selected.
“We’ve got to go through the application process like everyone else, and we’ll see what comes out the other end,” Mr Cocker says.
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Chelsea Armitage
Tue, 28 Jul 2015
Tue, 28 Jul 2015
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NetSafe responds to call for cyber-bullying mediator
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