Sex Workers Warn of Harm to Safety, Livelihoods if Section 230 Is Repealed

Sex Workers Warn of Harm to Safety, Livelihoods if Section 230 Is Repealed

WASHINGTON — An article published yesterday by legislative news site The Hill yesterday highlighted the dire consequences that the campaign to repeal Section 230 is already having for sex worker safety and visibility.

“Being deplatformed can have a serious effect on sex workers’ livelihoods, especially with the coronavirus pandemic taking away many of their other sources of promotion,” writer Chris Mills Rodrigo pointed out.

Section 230 has jumped to the forefront of national news, after Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) adamantly refused to have a vote on much-needed $2,000 COVID relief checks for most Americans unless Congress also repealed the so-called “First Amendment of the internet.”

Multiple voices with actual inside knowledge of the sex work industry were interviewed by Mills Rodrigo, including a sex worker who reported increased surveillance and censorship linked to the campaign to repeal Section 230.

According to her, a direct consequence of this campaign was to “further [render] us invisible in the context of a pandemic when most work is online and we can't even promote our work online."

“It is actually evil in my opinion,” she added.

The article cites Kate D’Adamo, a sex worker rights activist and partner at Reframe Health and Justice, to point out that “the downfall of Backpage combined with FOSTA/SESTA destabilized the sex work industry in the short term and harmed it gravely in the long term.”

“Other websites that could have been spaces for sex workers to regroup after Backpage, such as Craigslist or Tumblr, cracked down on sex-related content in the wake of the law,” The Hill article continued.

The article also correctly noted that the passage of FOSTA-SESTA “forced content onto more obscure sites, ultimately making it more difficult to maintain lists of dangerous clients, called 'no-date lists,' and other norms surrounding interaction.”

To read “Sex Workers Warn of Unintended Consequences in Section 230 Fight,” visit TheHill.com.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

ImLive Announces Revamped Member Loyalty Program

Cam platform ImLive has revamped its member loyalty program.

GoFundMe Set Up for Danny Ferretti's Medical Expenses

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Fangear founder Danny Ferretti, who requires extensive lung surgery.

Byborg Acquires Cuties AI

Byborg Enterprises has acquired adult artificial intelligence startup Cuties AI.

Irish Government Releases Report on Sex Work Decriminalization Legislation

The Irish government has released a report reviewing a 2017 law that decriminalized sex work across the country.

Texas Bill Would Require Age Verification for Online Sex Toy Sales

A new bill in the Texas state legislature would require online retailers to implement age verification of purchasers before selling “obscene devices” to anyone in that state.

New York Assemblyman Proposes Banning the Term 'Sex Work'

Republican New York Assembly Member Brian Maher has introduced a bill to prohibit the use of the term "sex work" in government documents.

Age Verification Watch: Michigan Joins the AV Club, Some Laws Just Make No Sense

This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Free Speech Groups Back SCOTUS Appeal of Georgia Strip Club Tax

Two civil liberties organizations filed an amicus brief Tuesday supporting a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal in a case involving whether a tax specifically aimed at adult entertainment establishments violates the First Amendment.

Creator Networking App 'Plaiir' Launches

Plaiir, a mobile networking app for creators, has officially launched.

Swedish Court Rules LELO Products Do Not Infringe 'Invalid' Satisfyer Patent

A Swedish district court has ruled that a patent filed by Satisfyer parent company EIS GmbH is not valid, and therefore three products from pleasure brand LELO are not in violation.

Show More