Australia introduces 3-year jail norm to check social media rot

In an attempt to prevent more acts of terror and mass shooting, Australian government on Saturday introduced new laws under which government officials and bureaucrats will face prison up to three years for either posting or failing to remove "abhorrent" material from their social media platform as soon as possible.

The new legislation will be introduced by the Australian government when the Parliament resumes on Monday.

Alternatively, the platform will receive a fine worth 10 per cent of its global annual turnover, Xinhua news agency reported.

The new laws were introduced following a crackdown on social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, launched by the Australian government in the wake of twin mosque shooting in Christchurch on March 15.

The video of the terror attack was live streamed on Facebook and shared on Twitter and YouTube.

"This is about keeping Australians safe by forcing social media companies to step up and do what the community expects of them to stop terrorists and criminals spreading their hate," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was quoted as saying.

The legislation described "abhorrent violent material" as any content produced by a perpetrator that captures terrorism, murder, attempted murder, torture, rape, and kidnapping.

If the laws are ratified by the Australian Parliament, they also notify the Australian Federal Police that their services are being used to stream offending conduct occurring in Australia.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ruled out re-introducing the death penalty for the terrorist Brenton Tarrant, who was arrested minutes after the attack on the mosques and has been charged with murder. Tarrant is scheduled to appear in court on April 5.

The Prime Minister is currently awaiting a comprehensive and timely report provided by the royal commission on the mosque attacks, dubbed to be the worst terror attack in the country's modern history.

Improving the security situation in the country, New Zealand last week implemented a ban on the sale of assault rifles and semi-automatics across the country to prevent more acts of terror and mass shootings anytime in the future.

At least 50 people, including five Indians--three from Gujarat, were killed in the terror attack.