World leaders, tech execs pledge to curb online violence

A dozen countries and global tech giants including Facebook, Google and Twitter pledged Wednesday to find ways to keep internet platforms from being used to spread hate, organize extremist groups and broadcast terror attacks.

World leaders led by French President Emmanuel Macron and tech executives gathered in Paris to compile a set of guidelines dubbed the "Christchurch Call to Action," named after the New Zealand city where 51 people were killed in a March attack on mosques. Part of the attack had been broadcast live on Facebook, drawing public outrage and fueling the debate on how to better regulate social media.

The agreement, which was drafted by the French and New Zealand governments, aims to prevent similar abuses of the internet while insisting that any actions must preserve "the principles of a free, open and secure internet, without compromising human rights and fundamental freedoms."