NZ attack video: French Muslim group to sue tech giants

PARIS

A Muslim group in France on Monday said it will file a criminal complaint against YouTube and Facebook after footage of the deadly terror attacks on Christchurch mosques was streamed on the platforms.

The French Council of the Muslim Faith said it will sue the popular internet platforms for "broadcasting a message with violent content abetting terrorism".

At least 50 Muslims were killed and as many injured on March 15 when a terrorist -- identified as Australian-born Brenton Tarrant, 28 -- entered the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch and shot worshippers in cold blood, including four children younger than 18.

In a statement last week, Facebook said the video received a full 4,000 views before it was taken down, adding the video was reported 29 minutes after it started, and 12 minutes after the live broadcast was ended.

The statement said none of the roughly 200 people who watched a livebroadcast of an attack on two mosques in New Zealand reported the video to Facebook.

Writing by Sibel Ugurlu