A Key New Law to Combat Online Sex Trafficking

The FOSTA-SESTA package is already disrupting the online trafficking industry for the better.

The U.S. House and Senate last month passed an important bill, known as SESTA (Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act), which targets online human trafficking. Now awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature, the bill “amends the federal criminal code to add a new section that imposes penalties — a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both — on a person who, using a facility or means of interstate commerce, owns, manages, or operates an interactive computer service (or attempt or conspires to do so) to promote or facilitate the prostitution of another person.” The law empowers attorneys general to prosecute websites promoting sex trafficking.

In combination with an earlier measure, known as FOSTA (Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act), which passed the Senate in late February, the FOSTA-SESTA package is alreadydisrupting the online trafficking industry for the better.

As a result of the impending law, several online trafficking websites have already shut down. Craigslist removed its “Personals” section that was used for trafficking. The Erotic Review removed its prostitution ads. Reddit removed its “Hookers” forum webpage and instituted policies banning the sale of sexual acts and drugs. Cityvibe has shut down. Microsoft plans to issue new Terms of Service, taking effect May 1, urging users not use their platforms (including Skype and Xbox) to share pornography or criminal acts.

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