“Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. As defined under U.S. federal law, victims of human trafficking include children involved in the sex trade, adults age 18 or over who are coerced or deceived into commercial sex acts, and anyone forced into different forms of “labor or services,” such as domestic workers held in a home, or farm-workers forced to labor against their will.” (1)
It’s the fastest growing criminal industry in the world and billions of dollars are profited internationally each year. Statistics are scarce because of the coercive and underground nature of the crime, but within the U.S. it has been estimated that there are hundreds of thousands of victims each year, of which approximately 100,000 are children forced into the sex industry. Nearly 300,000 children from across the U.S. are trafficked to major metropolitan areas for various kinds of labor, while 20,000 individuals are brought in from outside the United States.
The commercialized sex industry alone contributes to at least 75% of human trafficking cases in the U.S, while the rest is attributed to industries like domestic servitude, farm work, food preparation, and peddling rings or sales crews. All of these industries tend to prey on disadvantaged populations, creating situations where escape is either physically or mentally inaccessible. The scrupulous, and controlling nature of the crimes often make it frustrating for law enforcement and non-profit agencies to provide assistance to its victims.
The addition of online advertising has played a significant role in the rise of human trafficking within the past decade. Brothels, massage parlors, escort services, as well as street prostitution have all benefited, gaining yet another avenue to increase their consumer base. After Craigslist succumbed to pressure to close its erotic section, a majority of adult advertisements have moved to Backpage.com, another website that provides free classified advertisements.
Law enforcement claims that most victims of underage sex trafficking have been found to have had some sort of involvement with Backpage. As a result, members of congress, law enforcement, celebrities, and activists are pushing the site to discontinue its adult section. While Backpage.com claims underage sex advertising and trafficking goes against their terms of use and policy, it refuses to close its sex ads despite pressure, claiming that doing so would force traffickers to move offshore and out of reach of U.S. law.
Backpage.com regularly reports suspected child victims and traffickers to law enforcement, but opponents say they still implicitly, if not directly support trafficking by making it an available tool for criminals. The recent negative media attention has prompted private equity Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. to sell its stake in Village Voice, owner of the website. Other companies have followed suit and are removing any association on its site due to questionable business ethics.
States have recently caught on to the role online ads play in sex and human trafficking, adding laws that may make it more tricky for websites like Backpage.com to continue their adult section. The state of Washington recently passed SB 6251, requiring sites to verify the ages of those involved in the adult ads, but on June 4 a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order: Backpage.com is attempting to halt the law, claiming it violates the Communications Decency Act (CDA), as well as the First and Fifth Amendments Amendment rights. States like New York, and New Jersey, are attempting to legislate in similar ways, specifically addressing online advertisements.
Laws governing online communication are tricky and often controversial, but political alliances may make it a difficult fight for websites to maintain their adult section. Attorney Generals of 48 states recently sent a letter to the Village Voice, demanding they discontinue profiting off of sex trade on Backpage.com, reportedly earning 23 million dollars a year off of the adult section alone.
Human trafficking is hardly a controversial topic: it’s simply unacceptable. The modern dilemma is, how far should laws go to prevent it? Will more laws actually deter illegal exploitation, or will criminals just find another way to promote their business?
The Trafficking and Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2011, originally passed in 2000, is likely one of the most all-encompassing federal endeavors that provides everything from prevention, protection and stronger prosecution. Contact your representative to help reauthorize it. Human Trafficking legislation is most likely happening in your state as well, so search Billtrack50 to get the latest.
1. http://www.polarisproject.org/index.php
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