Digital Rights Activist Evan Greer Pens Op-Ed on 'Big Tech' Reform, Sex Worker Rights

Digital Rights Activist Evan Greer Pens Op-Ed on 'Big Tech' Reform, Sex Worker Rights

NEW YORK — Digital rights activist Evan Greer, deputy director for tech advocacy group Fight for the Future, has penned an op-ed for the Daily Beast arguing that politicians aiming to “fix Big Tech” should stop ignoring sex workers.

Greer’s opinion piece, published yesterday, foregrounds sex worker rights and activism through a lucid overview of the harms of FOSTA/SESTA, the looming threat of the proposed EARN IT Act and the ray of hope in the proposed SAFE SEX Worker Study Act recently proposed by some congressional Democrats.

“In the immediate wake of [FOSTA/SESTA]’s passage, sex workers — particularly queer and trans folks of color — were cut off from online platforms and tools they used to make a living and keep themselves safe,” Greer writes. “This included collectively maintained ‘bad date’ lists, commonly used to protect vulnerable workers from violent assaults on the job. Sex workers and advocates reported an increase in attacks, arrests, self-harm and suicide.”

“Now, four years later,” the piece continues, “lawmakers are once again obsessed with the idea of changing Section 230.”

Greer notes that although “Republicans latched on to largely evidence-free claims of anti-conservative bias in content moderation,” the groups most often censored and de-platformed on social media “are those which conservatives regularly demonize and attack: people of color, trans women and Arab and Muslim folks living outside the U.S., whose speech is systematically ensnared in the wide nets of automated anti-terrorism filters.”

Greer faults Democrats for “consistently” failing to explain “how their proposed changes to Section 230 would actually solve the problems they’re identifying. And worse, they often willfully ignore the ways that such changes can backfire, and harm the very communities Democrats say they want to protect.”

Observing how the ongoing war on sex worker rights — of which the War on Porn is an enormous part — intersects with constant attempts to regulate the power of large technology conglomerates, Greer concludes that the big lesson is: "Big Tech platforms care a lot more about covering their butts and protecting their bottom line than they do about standing up for the human rights and free expression of marginalized people.”

To read Evan Greer’s “Want to Fix Big Tech? Stop Ignoring Sex Workers,” visit the TheDailyBeast.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

FSC Publishes Analysis of Federal Trade Commission Event Promoting AV

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published an analysis of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) event held this week that promoted age verification among other forms of speech regulation.

Andylynn Payne Toplines Joey Silvera's 'Trans-Active 30'

Andylynn Payne headlines director Joey Silvera’s “Trans-Active 30” from Evil Angel.

GirlsDoPorn Owner Michael Pratt Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Michael Pratt, former owner of the rogue website GirlsDoPorn, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday to sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking charges, according to a report by City News Service.

Master Nico Relaunches Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Master Nico has relaunched his official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Federal Judge Grants Partial Halt of Florida AV Law

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, has granted a preliminary injunction against HB 3, the state's age verification law, as a lawsuit filed by two online trade associations challenging the law makes its way through the courts.

Aylo Releases Statement on Suspending Access to Pornhub in France

Technology and media company Aylo, which operates adult sites including Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube, has released a public statement regarding its decision to block access to its sites in France.

Pineapple Support to Host Wellness Sessions at Bucharest Summit

Pineapple Support is hosting free group and one-on-one therapy sessions at Bucharest Summit, June 3-5.

Pornhub Blocks Access in France in Response to SREN Law

Pornhub parent company Aylo has opted to block access to its sites in France rather than comply with age verification requirements under the country’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law.

Jade Venus Fronts 'Trans Cheerleaders 2' From GenderX

Jade Venus stars with Evie Christian and Sage Roux in the second volume of GenderX Films' "Trans Cheerleaders," directed by Jim Powers.

Leilani Li Stars in Latest From Transfixed

Leilani Li stars with Avery Jane and reigning XMAs Trans Performer of the Year Ariel Demure in the latest release from Transfixed, titled "Bolstered and Pampered."

Show More