Conclusion
This chapter presented competing conceptions of cooperation that emerged from a
genealogical analysis of the developments that led to the implementation of filtering
to combat the proliferation of child exploitation on the Internet. In contrast to dominant perspectives that view cooperation as the state’s domestic implementation of international agreements, this chapter presented the concept of dynamic cooperation.
Dynamic cooperation constitutes a sustained practice in which actors, both state and
nonstate, must continually interact to achieve implementation. While not reflected in
official declarations, the behind-the-scenes debates surrounding international efforts to
protect children online reflected a concern that the problems posed by ICTs required
potentially new forms of cooperation. These approaches emphasized continual interaction among a diverse set of participants in order to take down images of child abuse at
their source. However, this conception of cooperation was unable to unseat the dominant discourse, and Internet filtering was ultimately legitimized and implemented.
The result is a situation in which domestic organizations that have been delegated
authority to combat the proliferation of child abuse images online lack the willingness
or institutional capacity for dynamic cooperation. The introduction of filtering technology reduces the incentive for organizations with an already narrow conception
of cooperation to further engage with relevant counterparts across international boundaries. Those engaging in the proliferation of images of child abuse online remain
largely unaffected by filtering technology, as well as takedown and removal efforts.
They are able to exploit the lack of cooperation among international actors. Unlike
the forms of cooperation emerging in other areas of content removal, such as those
targeting phishing Web sites, efforts to combat child pornography are framed and
narrowly understood as the domain of states. There remain considerable barriers to
dynamic forms of cooperation as a result.
Problematizing cooperation contributes to a better understanding of the complex
challenges facing the international community in the 21st century. It suggests that
our existing institutions may be unable to cope with the demands of problems exacerbated by the proliferation of ICTs. It suggests that new norms and mechanisms
designed to promote a deeper form of dynamic cooperation may be necessary.
Notes
1. R. Barri Flowers, ‘‘The Sex Trade Industry’s Worldwide Exploitation of Children,’’ Annals of the
American Academy of Political and Social Science 575 (2001): 147–157.
2. Marie Eneman, ‘‘The New Face of Child Pornography,’’ in Human Rights in the Digital Age, ed.
M. Klang and A. Murray (London: Cavendish Publishing, 2005); Steven Hick and Edward Halpin,
66
Nart Villeneuve
This chapter presented competing conceptions of cooperation that emerged from a
genealogical analysis of the developments that led to the implementation of filtering
to combat the proliferation of child exploitation on the Internet. In contrast to dominant perspectives that view cooperation as the state’s domestic implementation of international agreements, this chapter presented the concept of dynamic cooperation.
Dynamic cooperation constitutes a sustained practice in which actors, both state and
nonstate, must continually interact to achieve implementation. While not reflected in
official declarations, the behind-the-scenes debates surrounding international efforts to
protect children online reflected a concern that the problems posed by ICTs required
potentially new forms of cooperation. These approaches emphasized continual interaction among a diverse set of participants in order to take down images of child abuse at
their source. However, this conception of cooperation was unable to unseat the dominant discourse, and Internet filtering was ultimately legitimized and implemented.
The result is a situation in which domestic organizations that have been delegated
authority to combat the proliferation of child abuse images online lack the willingness
or institutional capacity for dynamic cooperation. The introduction of filtering technology reduces the incentive for organizations with an already narrow conception
of cooperation to further engage with relevant counterparts across international boundaries. Those engaging in the proliferation of images of child abuse online remain
largely unaffected by filtering technology, as well as takedown and removal efforts.
They are able to exploit the lack of cooperation among international actors. Unlike
the forms of cooperation emerging in other areas of content removal, such as those
targeting phishing Web sites, efforts to combat child pornography are framed and
narrowly understood as the domain of states. There remain considerable barriers to
dynamic forms of cooperation as a result.
Problematizing cooperation contributes to a better understanding of the complex
challenges facing the international community in the 21st century. It suggests that
our existing institutions may be unable to cope with the demands of problems exacerbated by the proliferation of ICTs. It suggests that new norms and mechanisms
designed to promote a deeper form of dynamic cooperation may be necessary.
Notes
1. R. Barri Flowers, ‘‘The Sex Trade Industry’s Worldwide Exploitation of Children,’’ Annals of the
American Academy of Political and Social Science 575 (2001): 147–157.
2. Marie Eneman, ‘‘The New Face of Child Pornography,’’ in Human Rights in the Digital Age, ed.
M. Klang and A. Murray (London: Cavendish Publishing, 2005); Steven Hick and Edward Halpin,
66
Nart Villeneuve