Overnight, Backpage.com announced the shutdown of its “adult services” section of the classifieds website. This announcement came on the eve of Backpage.com’s executives and general counsel appearing at a hearing today before the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) to answer questions about the committee’s report stating that Backpage.com knowingly posted advertisements for the sale of sex trafficked children. Citing statistics from Shared Hope International and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that help demonstrate the scope of child sex trafficking occurring online, Senator Portman explained that the PSI report released this week provides substantial evidence that Backpage.com not only allowed advertisements for sex with children to be posted, but that the company employed “editing practices” that sanitized those advertisements and hid the sex trafficking of children from public view, and potentially from law enforcement.
When Backpage.com executives appeared on Capitol Hill this morning to testify before the subcommittee about the company’s participation in facilitating online sex trafficking, they declined to answer questions, asserting protections under the First and Fifth Amendments. While Backpage.com executives refused to testify, families of trafficking survivors testified and shared the stories of their collective 14 years fighting for their children who were trafficked on Backpage.com. Holding back tears, the parents of child sex trafficking survivors testified about the harm done to their children in an effort to help protect other children being exploited online through websites like Backpage.com. Senator McCaskill stated at today’s hearing, “We now know as a result of our legal battle that they did not turn away ads of children…they just tried to sanitize it…That is the definition of evil.”
Linda Smith, Shared Hope International President and Founder said after attending the hearing, “I was moved by the heartbreaking stories of these families who suffered immense pain as a result of their children being sold on Backpage.com. Their stories make it clear, even though we celebrate the closure of Backpage.com’s adult section, we can’t stop fighting until victims get the legal justice they deserve and Backpage.com can no longer hide behind the Communications Decency Act.”
Today’s events come on the heels of Monday’s US Supreme Court denial of review of victims’ claims in Does v. Backpage.com, and as Backpage.com executives turn their focus to tomorrow’s arraignment on new criminal charges in California.
Shared Hope International has been on the front lines advocating for laws to combat the widespread sex trafficking of children online, particularly through classified sites like Backpage.com. There are many fronts to this battle and Shared Hope remains committed to the victims’ pursuit of justice, as well as preventing further exploitation of children by establishing civil and criminal liability for these crimes.
- Share on Facebook2.0K
- 15
Dave Konkol says
This news is fantastic and totally unanticipated: thanks for all your tireless work on behalf of all of us.
Dayle Rutledge says
Its a step, such a small step but forward.
T says
Wow, I just went to check if this were true and found that there is a bit of commentary crying censorship and links to many articles and asking for donations. I find this a great development, I pray it is one to last and sends a message to anyone who thinks illegal activity advertising or selling of humans is ok!
P. McKenna says
Thank you for the update on Backpage.com and the advocating you are doing in congress to stop sex trafficking of our youngsters. I pray you will be successful in stopping these horrific slave-like treatment and abuse of these children. I commend you and your staff for all you are doing in this effort.
Kenneth Castillo says
Thank you for continuing the fight against sex trafficking. Sadly, Backpage.com just pivoted. They still offer sex for sell on their “dating” section. They also still offer “massages” on their “Services” section. They have posted Censored messages on their adult section acting like they are doing something productive. They are not, they have only pivoted.
Janine says
Thank you for having the courage to fight this scourge on society and rebellion against our creator God….on behalf of all our sons and daughters. May his kingdom come in all we do and say for his glory.
Mary Z. says
Thank God for this development. And thanks to all who are out there working so hard to educate the public and protect our children from such heinous crime.
P.S says
I actually just learned about backpage.com when doing research on human/sex trafficking, as well as attending a local WAR international conference. I seen that backpage.com has shut down their personal ads; however, I checked my local Craigslist’s site and found offensive personal ads that were pornographic. Although I was searching some of these sites looking for my friend’s son, who went missing 11 months ago (He is 19 years old, has Aspergers and suffered a closed-head injury w/in 1 year of going missing), I don’t think Craigslist should allow these type photos or solicting ads on their site. I know bad things happen to our teens and young adults leaving many people think they just ran away or stay gone based on their free will; though, I believe many youth and adults are being trafficked instead of just vanishing w/out a trace!
Eileen says
These ads are still up and running. They front as massage ads with obvious young Asian girls….the key words used are “new” which means these girls are new to the market and being sold most likely. I j ust found ton of ads in New Mexico.
Susanna Bean says
Hello Eileen, yes it is very sad that these ads have simply moved to new areas of the website. You can read Linda Smith’s op-ed on this issue here: http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/victory-against-backpagecom-is-but-one-battle-in-long-war/ We are working on a change to the law that would hold facilitators of online child sex trafficking accountable. To learn more and take action, visit this page of our website: http://sharedhope.org/what-we-do/bring-justice/legislative-action-center/stop-injustice-online/