Congress Cracks Down on Sex for Sale

Because sex for sale so often increases the chances of human trafficking, the government has cracked down on a site called Backpage.com, where pictures accompanied descriptions of people offering adult services.

Visiting their website produces this message:

“The government has unconstitutionally censored this content. First, this act of censorship will not reduce the problem of human trafficking, and those who suggest otherwise are deluding themselves and their constituencies. Instead, it undermines efforts by Backpage.com to cooperate with law enforcement and provide information to identify, arrest and prosecute those who engage in human trafficking.”

Senator Rob Portman told Fox28 that making small changes in Communications Decency Act, a federal law, which could prevent websites like Backpage.com from having immunity if they allow for minors to be pictured on their site.

According to a sex trafficking in Fox28’s article, now is the busiest time of year for human and sex trafficking.

In Ohio, the Human Trafficking Task Force identified 777 victims of trafficking between 2014-2015.

Photo via the Human Trafficking Task Force

January is Human Trafficking Awareness month — if you suspect signs of trafficking or know someone that needs help, please contact the Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or visit their website here.

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