The executives of classified listings site Backpage. This federal law was introduced in , and protects web publishers from assuming responsibility for user-generated content. The case is not the first brought against Backpage, and the site has been the target of at least three lawsuits from women who say they were the victim of sex traffickers who used Backpage to place classified ads.
According to a report from Newsweek , the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that some children have been trafficked through Backpage, while researchers from Arizona State University have repeatedly found ads on the site featuring minors. Meanwhile, supporters of Backpage say that it does help some sex workers by allowing them the freedom to operate independently.
Critics are instead hoping that the law can be changed to allow some action to be taken. The homepage The Verge The Verge logo. Menu Expand. Navigation Drawer. The Verge The Verge logo. All Podcasts Decoder The Vergecast. Comments Drawer. James Vincent is a senior reporter who has covered AI, robotics, and more for eight years at The Verge. Most Popular. Email required. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice.
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