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Code word usage in the online ivory trade across four European Union member states

Alfino, Sara, Roberts, David L. (2020) Code word usage in the online ivory trade across four European Union member states. Oryx, 54 (4). pp. 494-498. ISSN 0030-6053. E-ISSN 1365-3008. (doi:10.1017/S0030605318000406) (KAR id:67136)

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Abstract

Illegal wildlife trade is a rapidly evolving environmental crime that is expanding through e-commerce. Because of the nature of the internet, detection of online illegal wildlife and enforcement has proven to be difficult and time-consuming, often based on manual searches through the use of keywords. As a result of scrutiny, traders in elephant ivory now use code words to disguise the trade, thus adding an additional level of complexity. Here we look at the use of 19 code words and phrases associated with the online trade in elephant ivory items on eBay across four European Union (EU) member States. Results show that, in spite of eBay’s ban on ivory, elephant ivory is still being offered for sale across all four sites we searched (183 ivory items offered by 113 sellers during 18 January–5 February 2017). Beyond the violation of eBay’s Terms and Conditions, other potential illegalities included offers for sale across international borders without mention of CITES permit requirements, and the offer of ivory that may be considered 'unworked', which violates EU regulations. Code word usage was found to be consistent across all four EU countries. Although the rise of online wildlife trade is of concern, the growth of global markets may homogenize conventions within trading communities, such as in this case the code words used. Homogenization of conventions may therefore offer opportunities for tackling the illegal online trade in wildlife.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1017/S0030605318000406
Uncontrolled keywords: CITES, code word, e-commerce, elephant, enforcement, illegal wildlife trade, ivory, linguistics
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: David Roberts
Date Deposited: 25 May 2018 16:12 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 15:43 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/67136 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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