Discourse networks on state-mandated access blocking in Germany and France

Abstract

Purpose

The paper iaims to investigate the evolution of discourses, claims and actor positions during the German and French examination of legislation aimed at introducing state-mandated website blocking measures of sexual child images (often referred to as “child pornography”).

Design/methodology/approach

The focus lies on the opportunities and difficulties for opponents of internet blocking measures to form discourse coalitions that challenge the frames articulated and normalised by power elites. While critics of mandatory internet blocking were ignored at the outset of the debate, their frames have eventually been adopted and debated by proponents of internet blocking in Germany.

Findings

Activists successfully criticised the effectiveness of introducing internet blocking measures, which led to the final abandonment of the bill. In France, the debate remained largely confined to online media, where critics voiced their opposition but did not succeed in influencing the broader policy agenda, which was primarily concerned with security issues. Both cases offer important insights for the study of internet filtering and blocking from a comparative perspective.

Originality/value

Both cases offer important insights for the study of internet filtering and blocking from a comparative perspective.

Citation

Breindl, Y. (2013), "Discourse networks on state-mandated access blocking in Germany and France", info, Vol. 15 No. 6, pp. 42-62. https://doi.org/10.1108/info-03-2013-0011