SESTA/FOSTA and AdultWork.com

[Miss Deviant]

Ahh - excellent explanation - thanks

The devil, as usual, is in the detail. Or, as in anything to do with the current administration, lack of detail, thought, and consideration of possible consequences.

One can't, in all conscience, object to the prevention of traffiking (for whatever purpose) provided any laws are limited to, and affect only, the traffikers and help the victims of such traffiking.

Nasty situation - hopefully there'll be the required number of signatures on that petition to at least get a response.

But you see it goes beyond that. It's basically using the "protecting the children" language to wage war on sexworkers on the internet. They use the "children" bit because it's very difficult to contest when it comes to protecting children.

It's not going to stop sex-trafficking. It's actually going to increase it. Workers will no longer be able to screen clients in the usual ways. Some will either have to lose their livelihood or forced back into street prostitution - which leaves them at risk of being trafficked. Trafficking groups are not going to advertise on somewhere like AdultWork. Yes, they may advertise on such as back page or craigslist, but not AdultWork, simply because of the rating system. 

Generally; trafficked girls are passed around the networks of trafficking groups. Why? Because your average client may be able to tell if said girl is trafficked and would alert the authorities. These girls are passed from criminals to criminals. Trafficked girls (boys, trans etc) are advertised on the dark web.  FOSTA only sends it further underground. 

You have to see the bigger picture. It's not just about sexworkers. It's taking away your rights. If you want to enjoy a steamy online session with your boo; you are now no longer allowed to do that. If you have sexy pictures of your boo stored on such as google photos; you're not allowed to.

Then there's the cloud act which was quietly pushed through. It means that any online data can be collected from US citizens by US law enforcement, from ANY country in the world. It's a snooping law.

These new laws affect every person who uses the internet. It is in effect; internet censorship. Unless those who are NOT in the sex industry see this; nothing will change. 

And notice something else - it's only because we're in the industry that we're aware of it. You won't find details of it in the mainstream news. Less people who know that they are having their rights pissed on; less people to turn around and tell those in power how they really feel about it.