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Backpage Raided, CEO Arrested on Sex-Trafficking Charges

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Re: Backpage Raided, CEO Arrested on Sex-Trafficking Charges

#3

Post by AndrewKemendo »

Is the distinction between this page and the kind of things posted on craigslist, strictly that the posters had to pay to list their ads? Or do prostitutes not post on craigslist? AFAIK Newmark hasn't had to deal with any of this.

I'd be interested to know if there is something similar and legal in countries that allow prostitution (Netherlands?). Seems like they were making a lot of revenue for what is basically illegal ads - so a legal version would do even better I would imagine. Though I suppose the pricing would drop if it were legal.

Re: Backpage Raided, CEO Arrested on Sex-Trafficking Charges

#5

Post by seibelj »

Even if you are morally opposed to prostitution, is there really any benefit to authorities when you remove a centralized location and move it to the street or many different websites? If you really want to manage the prostitution "problem", having it all on a single website seems like a benefit for managing and researching the issue.

Re: Backpage Raided, CEO Arrested on Sex-Trafficking Charges

#7

Post by haser_au »

seibelj wrote: post #5

Even if you are morally opposed to prostitution, is there really any benefit to authorities when you remove a centralized location and move it to the street or many different websites? If you really want to manage the prostitution "problem", having it all on a single website seems like a benefit for managing and researching the issue.

Same could be said for the legalisation of drugs. Central online repository, good for research.

Re: Backpage Raided, CEO Arrested on Sex-Trafficking Charges

#8

Post by haser_au »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #3

Is the distinction between this page and the kind of things posted on craigslist, strictly that the posters had to pay to list their ads? Or do prostitutes not post on craigslist? AFAIK Newmark hasn't had to deal with any of this. I'd be interested to know if there is something similar and legal in countries that allow prostitution (Netherlands?). Seems like they were making a lot of revenue for what is basically ill…

Craigslist had a section, and shut it down.

http://gawker.com/5630687/your-post-craigslist-guide-to-buyi...

Edit: Newmark has had to deal with it. Check here for more; http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/frame_game/2...

Re: Backpage Raided, CEO Arrested on Sex-Trafficking Charges

#9

Post by themgt »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #3

Is the distinction between this page and the kind of things posted on craigslist, strictly that the posters had to pay to list their ads? Or do prostitutes not post on craigslist? AFAIK Newmark hasn't had to deal with any of this. I'd be interested to know if there is something similar and legal in countries that allow prostitution (Netherlands?). Seems like they were making a lot of revenue for what is basically ill…

I posted a new thread w/ the NYT link [1], [2] because it had this helpful tidbit:

A congressional investigation this year found that the website changed some of its adult classifieds to conceal the fact that the advertisements were for sex acts with minors. Mr. Ferrer was subpoenaed by a Senate subcommittee last fall to answer questions about reported child sex-trafficking ads, but he did not show up.

Found to be covering up child sex trafficking by Congress and you just blow them off and don't change anything? That's the point where getting arrested shouldn't be much of a surprise.

[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/07/us/carl-ferrer-backpage-ce... [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12658053

Re: Backpage Raided, CEO Arrested on Sex-Trafficking Charges

#10

Post by roel_v »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #3

Is the distinction between this page and the kind of things posted on craigslist, strictly that the posters had to pay to list their ads? Or do prostitutes not post on craigslist? AFAIK Newmark hasn't had to deal with any of this. I'd be interested to know if there is something similar and legal in countries that allow prostitution (Netherlands?). Seems like they were making a lot of revenue for what is basically ill…

There is a yelp for prostitution, aptly situated at hookers.nl; they might also have ads, I don't know (and I don't want to try from a corporate network). I feel I should add here that I know about the existence of this website because a number of years ago a somewhat famous politician was forced to resign, partly because of his posting history on that website, so at the time it was widely talked about in mainstream media.
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