Germany shooting: data on online spread of livestreamed attack kept secret

Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and Google decline to release figures despite pledge in wake of Christchurch attack

US tech companies have declined to release data on the online spread of footage of last week's shooting in Halle, Germany, despite pledging greater transparency as part of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's "Christchurch Call".

Companies including Facebook and Twitter committed in May to take "transparent, specific measures" to prevent the amplification of violent content, after the killing of 51 people in Christchurch, New Zealand was livestreamed on Facebook.