Starting Somewhere: Andrew Cushen on The Code for Online Safety and Harm

This week’s Fireside Chat was a conversation with Andrew Cushen, Executive Director of The Code — Aotearoa’s voluntary industry agreement where platforms like Meta, TikTok, Google, X and Twitch commit to tackling online safety and harm.

Andrew walked us through what The Code is — and what it isn’t. It’s not a government mandate or a fix-all. But it is a start: 45 outcome-based measures across 13 harm categories, with annual reporting and independent audits. Think bullying, child safety, disinformation, hate speech — the hard stuff.

It was clear from the kōrero that this isn’t a silver bullet. Based on audience questions there are valid concerns about enforceability, transparency, and the voluntary nature of the agreement. But we also talked about the value of moving forward, even if imperfectly — and the importance of having something on the table to evolve from.

If you’re curious about how tech companies are approaching safety and harm in Aotearoa, and what accountability might look like in practice, you can catch the full conversation with Andrew below.