Facebook has been under fire recently after the role its platform played in the horrible Christchurch Mosque shootings. The video amassed more than 4,000 views online before being removed online. The Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg, represented Facebook in a letter to the New Zealand Herald.

Facebook, We Agree

Sandberg addressed the heavy criticism towards Facebook for its policies that allowed the video to circulate online. Not only that but the platform also enables such Live video streaming of sensitive and downright gruesome acts for its loose guidelines.

In the wake of the Christchurch mosque shootings, less than 200 people watched the online video, with the first report coming in 12 minutes after the video ended.

Sandberg agrees with critics, admitting that the platform needs to work over these things and that Facebook needs to do more.

No Policy Change

In the letter written, Sandberg did not say anything about a change in their policy or an addition to the policies that exist to regulate Facebook. Instead, she informed the Herald about the steps the company will take in order to strengthen the application of rules on Facebook Live and taking greater strides in addressing hate speech that finds home in many social platforms today.

Facebook is now addressing the huge problem in white nationalism and separatism, saying that they will block contents that promote or represent these sentiments.

Facebook is also working with the police on the ongoing investigation.

Exploring Restrictions

Sandberg and Facebook are now exploring restrictions on who can live stream prior to their Community Standards. The platform had a hard time containing the video of the attack from circulating. The Facebook Newsroom informed its users that it was able to remove 1.5 million videos of the attack from circulating globally with 1.2 of those being stopped from upload.

However, things become trickier due to the sharing of videos on other platforms.

New Zealand's Move

As the country continues to grieve, New Zealand is now reviewing the current laws on hate speech which they've deemed inadequate. The Justice Minister, Andrew Little, commented that these laws do not address the "hateful and evil things" that circulate online.

The government and Human Rights Commission now work side by side to bring forward proposals that will deal with this matter. Many officials, including New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, attends the memorial for the victims.