New Zealand's Privacy Commissioner has called on Facebook to report the names of anyone who has shared the chilling footage of the Christchurch terrorist attack which claimed 50 lives.
The social media giant has come under fire from John Edwards after the full 17 minute video of last Friday's mass shooting was officially classified as objectionable.
The fast-tracked classification makes it illegal for anyone in New Zealand to view, possess or distribute the material in any form, including social media.
The ban comes a day after an 18-year-old New Zealand man accused of Facebook sharing a live-stream video of the Christchurch massacre was denied bail and faces up to 14 years behind bars.
The teenager also allegedly uploaded a photograph of one of the attacked mosques with the words 'target acquired'.
An 18-year-old man (pictured) accused of Facebook sharing a live-stream video of the Christchurch massacre was refused bail in Christchurch District Court on Monday. It is it illegal for anyone in New Zealand to view, possess or distribute the material in any form
Mr Edwards urged Facebook to notify police of people who shared the horrific footage filmed by alleged Australian gunman Brenton Tarrant.
'It's not a conflict I think because at the core there is a very egregious offence to the dignity and the rights to privacy of the victims.' Mr Edwards told radio station RNZ on Tuesday.
He also slammed Facebook for not taking enough action to make the platform safe in wake of the terrorist attack which was New Zealand's worst mass shooting.
'When the live-stream first became available, I was told there would mechanisms for reporting and there would be some kinds of moderation. There hasn't been enough,' Mr Edwards told NewsHub.
New Zealand's Privacy Commissioner John Edwards (pictured) urged Facebook to notify police of people who has shared the horrific footage of Christchurch terrorist attack
Facebook told NewsHub it took down the alleged gunman's footage after it was alerted by New Zealand Police and have since taken down 1.5 million copies.
The footage was deemed objectionable because of the depiction and promotion of extreme violence and terrorism, which could cause significant harm to those who view it, especially for victims and their families.
'We're aware that for a time after the attacks, this video was widely available on social media and many New Zealanders saw it, sometimes without meaning to,' Chief Censor David Shanks said in statement.
'Our priority is to mitigate the harm caused by this material to the New Zealand public, and in particular to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the Christchurch terror attacks.'
There are harsh penalties for sharing the banned material.
Police allege an 18-year-old shared a live-stream of a mass shooting across two mosques. Pictured: Armed officers patrol a cemetery near Muslim graves in Christchurch
'If you didn't know the material was objectionable and you were found in possession of it, a maximum fine of $10,000 could apply,' Deputy Chief Censor Jared Mullen told the New Zealand Herald.
'If you knew the content was objectionable and were found in possession of it - the legal test here is 'knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the publication is objectionable' - a maximum term of 14 years imprisonment could apply.'
The Department of Internal Affairs' Digital Safety Unit are providing advice to media organisations to support a lawful and principled approach to reporting on the incident.
The lengthy 74 page 'manifesto' document released by Tarrant prior to the mass shooting is being reviewed separately and will take more time to consider.
The teenager accused of Facebook sharing a live-stream video of the Christchurch massacre appeared in Christchurch District Court on Monday.
He was granted an interim name suppression order, but was denied bail by Judge Stephen O'Driscoll.
Police have said the teenager - who cannot yet be named - was not involved in the attack on two mosques.
The young man has
