Anna Moone, a local porn performer and cam model, has been speaking out against the newly passed sex censorship laws. Photo courtesy of Anna Moone. Anna Moone, a local porn performer and cam model, has been speaking out against the newly passed anti-sex work laws. Their goals β eradicating slavery and child sexual abuse β are undoubtedly noble. But in practice, the bipartisan bill package represents a dangerous display of ignorance.
Rather than just targeting pimps and traffickers, the bill restricts anyone who consensually engages in sex work and all websites they use to communicate for sex work. Repercussions for free speech online are staggering and have already begun: On Friday, April 6, the Department of Justice seized the website Backpage , and in March Craiglist preemptively took down its entire Personals section.
Reddit banned a number of subreddits about escorts and sugar daddies and tech experts suggest changes could be coming to more social media sites and dating apps. While all internet users will be impacted by this law, those most negatively affected are those it purports to help.
Another population that is already being adversely affected are consensual sex workers, people who choose to provide erotic services in exchange for money. Some sex workers enjoy the flexible hours and relatively good wages, others have simply come to rely on this industry to pay their bills. The idea that most providers are coerced or forced into the industry is a myth that is not supported by research. A recent DOJ study found that not only were juveniles far less likely to be trafficked than anti-trafficking lobbyists have suggested, pimps were also far less prevalent.
Ironically, because of these laws, many lower income sex workers who have been operating independently online will need to turn to much more dangerous street-based work and the supposed protection provided by pimps. Local porn performer and cam model Anna Moone has been engaging in education and activism in response to the laws. If Twitter bans sex workers, my career is over, as I will not be able to promote my films or my cam shows.
