AirAsia CEO quits Facebook after attack at New Zealand mosques

AirAsia Group CEO, Tony Fernandes speaks at a press conference in Sydney on March 12, 2015. Fernandes has quite Facebook due to so much “hate that goes on social media” especially in the wake of attacks in two New Zealand mosques last Friday that left at least 50 people dead. AFP FILE PHOTO/Peter PARKS / AFP PHOTO / PETER PARKS

MANILA, Philippines — AirAsia group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Fernandes has quit Facebook following the deadly mass shooting at two mosques in New Zealand last Friday.

In a Twitter post, Fernandes said he deactivated his Facebook account due to so much “hate that goes on social media” especially in the wake of the attacks in New Zealand that left at least 50 people dead.

Fernandes’ Facebook account has some 670,000 followers.

“Closed down my Facebook account with 670 k followers. Just thinking about Twitter now. [Whether] to close or carry on,” Fernandes tweeted Sunday.

“The amount of hate that goes on in social media sometimes outweighs the good. But on Twitter I think the battle for me goes on,” he added.

https://twitter.com/tonyfernandes/status/1107123988864491520

Reports said 28-year-old Australian Brenton Tarrant indiscriminately fired at worshippers in two mosques in Christchurch and even live-streamed the carnage on Facebook last Friday.

READ: New Zealand shooter steeped attack in dark internet culture

He also uploaded a 74-page manifesto, as reported by the Associated Press (AP), “identifying himself as a 28-year-old Australian and white nationalist who was out to avenge attacks in Europe perpetrated by Muslims.”

READ: New Zealand shootings seen as racist attack; 49 dead

Facebook said it had taken down the said livestream and also removed the gunman’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, the AP report said.

READ: Tech companies scramble to remove New Zealand shooting video

But Fernandes said 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!!!!  It needs to clean up and not just think of financials,” he said in an earlier tweet on March 17.

https://twitter.com/tonyfernandes/status/1107167917378953217?s=21

“It is a great platform to communicate. Strong engagement and very useful but New Zealand was too much for me to take along with all the other issues,” he added.

https://twitter.com/tonyfernandes/status/1107169674783920128

Fernandes, however, expressed his condolences to victims’ families.

“The killing in New Zealand is so sad. Innocent people who were just praying,” he said.

https://twitter.com/tonyfernandes/status/1106783236204580865

“My heart goes out to all the victims and their families. My condolences,” he added.

https://twitter.com/tonyfernandes/status/1106783331876630529