LOS ANGELES — The newest episode of the Peepshow Podcast features Woodhull Freedom Foundation CEO Ricci Levy and noted attorney Larry Walters discussing the latest updates on their legal challenge to FOSTA/SESTA.
The effort takes its next step this Friday, Sept. 20, when the Woodhull Freedom Foundation will return to federal court in a bid to challenge the constitutionality of the ill-conceived legislation.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in sex worker’s rights, internet regulation, constitutional law and freedom of speech; and it is particularly crucial for understanding the current legal status of FOSTA/SESTA.
The interviews also provide background on the history of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation and its commitment to solidarity with the sex work community.
“We have always had programs and workshops that focus on sex work, and we have always worked with the sex work community,” Levy said. “To any pushback, we have received, the answer I give is that we are a human rights organization. Unless you are saying that sex workers are not human beings, those issues will be part of the summit, just like every other issue.”
The episode also analyzes the intricacies of FOSTA/SESTA’s impact, as well as Woodhull’s challenge to it.
“If [FOSTA/SESTA] stands, there will be no end to what can be censored, and who can be punished for publishing things,” Levy added. “This is a disaster.”
“Given the lack of definition and vagueness of the law, this is something that has chilled tremendous amount of speech as we all have seen,” Walters explained. “Lots of websites have gone dark, many websites have moderated content, removed content, taken down profiles and users, and at the end of the day, sex workers are paying a very heavy price.”
“It is impossible to predict any decision by a court…These are people making decisions, it is a brand-new law, it hasn’t been interpreted before,” Walters concluded. “I think it is a critically important case, I think the court will take it seriously.”
The podcast episode can be heard here.