An Indian-origin man in Auckland said he filed complaints with police and sought help from online safety authorities after a video of him disposing of cardboard went viral, leading to offensive messages and public backlash.The man (name withheld) says the incident made him feel unsafe after sharing the footage on social media. He also claims that the person who filmed the confrontation damaged his car during the episode and broke the rearview mirror.“I apologized to the police and also told them that I was ready to pay the fine (if any) and apologized to the person who shot the video,” the man told The Indian Weekender.Police confirmed they had received a complaint in connection with the incident, which occurred on April 4 in Alfriston, Auckland, the Indian Weekender reported.
A police spokesman said: “Police can confirm they have received a report relating to an incident in Alfriston earlier this month.”The man says he and a friend were trying to get rid of three large pieces of cardboard before a planned job at their house. He claims they checked recycling options in Manurewa and Papakura, but found the facilities closed due to a public holiday.Upon their return, they tried to leave the cardboard in a grassy area, thinking it would break down over time, before they were confronted by a passing motorist.
The man said: “Within 15 seconds, a car stopped in front of us and a man got out with a phone camera and started recording and abusing us.”The confrontation in the video became tense, as the recorder shouted: “Don’t come to our country and throw garbage**.” The footage also captures recorded violations.The video begins with the recorder saying “You f** A**”, and shows the man apologizing and returning the cardboard to his car after confronting him.
In response, the registrar continues: “Don’t be sorry. Don’t come to our country and throw garbage in your mouth**.”
The clip has since gone viral, attracting thousands of reactions and comments. The man says he has also contacted Netsafe for help removing the video from social media. However, he claims that the organization was limited in what it could do.“Netsafe told me they wouldn’t be able to remove all the videos because the video doesn’t go against the community standards,” the man said.“The video went viral in India as well. Netsafe was only able to remove a few videos,” he added.He says the spread of the footage online was driven by pages seeking engagement and views, and says he regrets the incident.“I want to tell people if you make a mistake, accept it and apologize for it immediately,” he said.
