Heather engaged in sex work over the years for all of the following reasons. This is her brief yet powerful story. On the one hand, many feel sex work is a victimless crime, only made dangerous as a result of its unregulated status and the fact that sex workers cannot turn to authorities for help when exposed to violence or other criminal acts. Others feel that the sex workers themselves are often the victims, and point to human trafficking, slavery, and violence against sex workers as proof of that point.
Regardless of which side of the debate one takes, people engage in sex work for a variety of reasons. Some do so consensually and enjoy the work and see it as an actual job and service they provide. Others may do it because of their circumstances; the need for food, shelter, or to support a substance use disorder. And still others are coerced, manipulated, or forced into sex acts against their will (trafficking). Heather engaged in sex work over the years for all three reasons. This is her brief yet powerful story.

A note about FOSTA/SESTA (Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act and Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act): Passed in 2018, FOSTA-SESTA has transformed the lives of sex workers across the country, and intensified a long-running debate over how we deal with an underground economy that runs the gamut from voluntary sex work (aka prostitution) to involuntary sex trafficking.

A few days after Backpage (and other such websites) was shut down by US federal authorities in April 2018, Public Law 115-164, better known as FOSTA-SESTA, became US law. Its stated goal was to reduce human trafficking by amending Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and holding Internet platforms accountable for the content their users post. What the law has actually done is put increased pressure on Internet platforms to censor their users. While the law has been lauded by its supporters, the communities that it directly impacts claim that it has increased their exposure to violence and left those who rely on sex work as their primary form of income without many of the tools they had used to keep themselves safe.

The impact of FOSTA/SESTA on sex workers were plentiful. FOSTA/SESTA decreased sex workers’ financial security and stability by limiting their ability to advertise — all while increasing sex workers’ exposure to violence.

Additionally, some digital security practices, such as client e-verification tools and “bad date lists” of dangerous clients, were taken down after the bill passed. This created several health and safety concerns as these tools were essential for screening and networking with others.

The internet provides a space for sex workers to share resources amongst one another, build community with each other, advertise their services, share online digital security methods, and engage in sex workers rights activism.

But the vagueness of FOSTA/SESTA has created fear and paranoia surrounding the consequences of one’s online presence. Many sex workers have lost social media accounts, bank accounts, or access to online payment platforms unexpectedly.

These bills have cost tax-payers millions of dollars to enforce and it hasn’t made any positive impact toward reducing trafficking and sexual exploitation. In fact, there’s a growing body of evidence that it is doing the exact opposite, increasing vulnerability and harm to those who are at risk for being trafficked.