New Zealand election: Facebook shuts Advance NZ page for spreading ‘misinformation’

The party, co-led by former blues musician Billy Te Kahika, claimed Covid-19 was fake and the military was planning to carry out forced vaccinations

He accused Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of being behind Facebook’s decision, comparing the country to North Korea and China

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Billy Te Kahika, co-leader of the party Advance New Zealand, said Facebook has ‘officially interfered with the New Zealand 2020 elections’ after shutting down his party’s page. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:26pm, 15 Oct 2020Updated: 3:17pm, 15 Oct 2020

Facebook shut down the page of conspiracy-embracing political party Advance New Zealand on Thursday just two days out from a general election, accusing it of spreading misinformation about the coronavirus.

“We don’t allow anyone to share misinformation on our platforms about Covid-19 that could lead to imminent physical harm,” a spokesperson for the social media giant said.

The action prompted the party’s co-leader Billy Te Kahika – who has amassed a huge following using the online platform – to accuse Facebook of meddling in the upcoming vote.

“Facebook have now officially interfered with the New Zealand 2020 elections,” Te Kahika claimed in a live video posted to his personal Facebook page soon after the takedown.

“They did it in the middle of a broadcast and it’s unbelievable, guys. This is amazing … they’ve actually carried through with the threat.”

Facebook’s action against a registered political party in the midst of an election campaign is unprecedented in New Zealand.

It comes as the company shows an increased willingness to act against misleading political claims, fake accounts pushing partisan agendas and hate speech such as Holocaust denial.