Eight rogue websites hosting Christchurch terror video blocked by Australian ISPs

Eight rogue websites showing graphic video of the Christchurch terror attacks will be blocked under new orders given to Australian internet service providers.

Australia's eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant is exercising her power to block the content for the first time, after the websites refused her requests to remove the material.

The new order means the e-safety commissioner will be responsible for monitoring the eight blacklisted sites. If the websites remove the material they can be unblocked.

Australian Brenton Tarrant is accused of slaughtering 51 worshippers in two New Zealand mosques.

Tarrant live streamed his attack, filmed in the style of a first-person shooter computer game. Copies of the distressing 17-minute live stream circulated online after his arrest.

"We cannot allow this heinous material to be used to promote, incite or instruct in further terrorist acts," Ms Inman Grant said today.

Australian ISPs had unilaterally blocked 45 websites hosting Tarrant's Christchurch shooting video or his evil manifesto.

Most of those websites have since removed the content and gone back online.

Ms Inman Grant refused to name the eight recalcitrant websites, to avoid potential glorification of the content.

Australia's eSafety commissioner has been empowered to order ISPs block extreme violent content in the future, if videos or manifestos are published by terrorists.

Tarrant's video spread like wildfire on the internet after the mass shooting.

Facebook said it took down 1.5 million copies of the video live streamed by Tarrant in the 24 hours after the massacre.

Last month the federal government ruled out blocking access to mainstream social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter.

With AAP