AirAsia boss shuts down his Facebook account over livestreaming of Christchurch carnage

AirAsia boss CEO Tony Fernandes has closed his Facebook account after the social media giant failed to stop the livestreaming of Christchurch carnage for more than 15 minutes. Though the Mark Zuckerberg company has maintained that the video was removed ‘quickly’, many have slammed Facebook for its approach. Fernandes is among the latest world leaders, who joined the anti-Facebook chorus on Sunday. He took to Twitter and announced his decision in two tweets.

“Facebook could have done more to stop some of this. I myself have been a victim of so many fake bitcoin and other stories. 17 mins of a live stream of killing and hate!!!! Its need to clean up and not just think of financials,” he said on Twitter. The AirAsia boss added that, “It is a great platform to communicate. Strong engagement and very useful but New Zealand was to much for me to take along with all the other issues.”

Meanwhile, Facebook has said that it had "quickly" removed a live video from the suspected gunman in twin mosque shootings that killed at least 49 people in New Zealand. The 28-year-old shooter, who has been arrested, published a racist manifesto on Twitter before livestreaming his rampage showing him repeatedly shooting at worshipers from close range. "Police alerted us to a video on Faceook shortly after the livestream commenced and we quickly removed both the shooter's Facebook and Instragram accounts and the video," the social network said.

"We're also removing any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon as we're aware." The Facebook Live video, taken with a camera that appeared to be mounted on the gunman's body, shows a clean-shaven, Caucasian man with short hair driving to the Masjid al Noor mosque in central Christchurch.

YouTube has also said that it is working to remove videos as it becomes aware of them, and urged users to flag videos that may violate the site’s guidelines.  “As with any major tragedy, we will work cooperatively with the authorities,” a spokesperson for YouTube parent company Google said.