This included classifieds and personals sites that hosted ads for sex workers, like Craigslist Personals and Backpage. The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) and Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) came into effect, resulting in the takedown of dozens of sites that were suspected of facilitating or supporting sex trafficking. The site had been a target of anti-sex work groups and law enforcement for years, but was finally shut down by a new law designed to curb human trafficking and child prostitution. In April 2018, Backpage’s users were surprised that the site was not working. Is Backpage Still Around? What Happened To It? They contended that shutting down Backpage would drive traffickers to other places on the internet that will be less forthcoming about crucial information for law enforcement. In 2015 Backpage lost all credit card processing agreements as banks came under pressure from law enforcement, leaving Bitcoin as the remaining option for paid ads.īackpage supporters claimed that by providing prompt and detailed information about suspicious postings to law enforcement, including phone numbers, credit card numbers and IP addresses, the website helped protect minors from trafficking. Despite claims by the website that it sought to block ads suspected of child sex trafficking or prostitution and reported some per month to the NCMEC, which in turn notified law enforcement. The Controversy and Suspension of Īs early as 2011 critics and law enforcement began accusing Backpage of being a hub for sex trafficking of both adults and minors. Activists argued that the move would force some of the site’s users to work on the street instead.
Backpage allowed for sex workers using the site to post bad date lists, screen clients and communicate with other sex workers to ensure a safer experience. Kristen DiAngelo, executive director of the Sex Workers Outreach Project of Sacramento, criticized the shutdown, questioning how many sex workers across the United States no longer had a way to support themselves. However, many escorts and erotic masseuses admit to moving their ads to the “massage” and “women seeking men” listings. The company suspended its adult listings following accusations by a United States Senate subcommittee of being directly involved with sex-trafficking and the sexual exploitation of minors.
Until January 9, 2017, Backpage’s adult section contained different subcategories of various sex work types. This platform allowed sex workers to find a lot of work with little effort, post/read reviews about clients, and communicate with other people in the industry – making it much safer than working the street. Although you could find postings of all kinds, was most known for its sex work ads, ranging from erotic massage to escort services.
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