A new Senate bill with rare bipartisan support seeks to curb online sex trafficking, but some critics of the legislation say the bill is so broadly written that it could open up legal floodgates that could expose social media networks Facebook and Twitter and popular reader-edited sites like reddit to prosecution for content published by users. [More]
Backpage.com
Critics Say New Anti-Trafficking Bill Could “Jeopardize Bedrock Principles” Of Social Media
By 8.2.17
Court Clears Backpage.com CEO Of Pimping Charges
By 12.13.16
There’s no doubt you can procure an escort’s services on Backpage.com. There is also evidence that underage sex workers have been using the site to find customers. However, a California court has ruled that — contrary to allegations made by the state’s attorney general — Backpage’s hosting of these ads is not the same as actual pimping. [More]
CEO Of Backpage.com Charged With Allegedly Pimping A Minor, Conspiracy To Commit Pimping
By 10.6.16
Popular listings site Backpage.com has long been a topic of debate for its decision to continue advertising escorts even as other sites like Craigslist tried to back away from these lucrative listings. But now comes news from California that the state has actually arrested the website’s CEO and charged him, along with two of Backpage’s controlling shareholders, with illegally promoting prostitution. [More]
Court Says Sheriff Crossed Line By Convincing Visa, MasterCard To Sever Ties With Backpage.com
By 7.27.15
First, an Illinois sheriff convinced Visa and MasterCard to stop doing business with online classifieds site Backpage.com, claiming the site was a storefront for sex traffickers. Then Backpage sued the sheriff, alleging his actions were tantamount to government censorship. Now a judge in the case has told the sheriff to back off of Backpage. [More]
Backpage.com Sues Sheriff For Persuading Visa, MasterCard To Stop Serving Site
By 7.21.15
Earlier this month, the sheriff of Cook County, IL, persuaded both Visa and MasterCard to end their relationships with online classifieds site Backpage.com, alleging the site is known to “promote prostitution and facilitate online sex trafficking.” Today, the website fired back with a lawsuit against the sheriff. [More]
Visa, MasterCard Cut Ties With Backpage.com After Pressure From Law Enforcement
By 7.1.15
After pressure from law enforcement, both Visa and MasterCard have announced they will no longer process payments for classified ads on Backpage.com. The site has often been criticized for its “Adult” section, which some say makes it easy for pimps and sex traffickers to solicit customers for sex. [More]
