Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern responded today to speculation she could lead an international coalition in a campaign against harmful content on social media.
Britain has come up with a white paper to make social media owners personally liable for not taking questionable material off their sites, and Ms Ardern's name was one brought up to lead the campaign.
The alleged shooter in the Christchurch terrorist attacks on March 15, during which 50 Muslims were killed while they prayed at two mosques, live streamed footage to Facebook.
Ms Ardern told TVNZ1's Breakfast today she had taken an interest in social media issues since the massacre.
"I do think New Zealand has a role to play but I'm just working on what that looks like because this needs to be meaningful - we've got to learn lessons from this," she said. "Domestic law can only take us so far."
The move, in the wake of the Christchurch terrorist attack, is a good first step but more can be done, the Prime Minister replied.
France, Germany and Australia had adopted different initiatives into social media, she said, "and I think the important thing for a country like New Zealand, this is a global platform, if we want change to be long-lasting we really do need some cooperation amongst the global community."
Ms Ardern said she has had conversations with other global leaders on the issue, and also hasn't ruled out the possibility of sitting down with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
"To date, with the exception of Brad Smith from Microsoft, I haven't sat down directly with those companies - certainly offers have been made - and in part that's been because I do want to make sure that the change that we seek is meaningful. That it's not just about, 'Yes, we have good reason in New Zealand to be making an ask', but actually it'll be a much stronger ask if we have a bit of international collaboration."
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