The Online Safety Bill is draft legislation that is designed to regulate the distribution and circulation of 'harmful' online content. The UK government argues that it is necessary in the face of tech giants such as Facebook and Alphabet failing to crack down those who use their platforms to promote hateful ideas and expose internet users, particularly children, to abuse and exploitation.
JBS supports regulations which protect internet users from abuse and exploitation. But we are opposed to clause 23 of schedule of the bill - which lists priority offences. These include "causing or inciting” or “controlling prostitution for gain" as one of the priority offences that tech companies are expected to identify and remove.
JBS is fearful of the consequences of the bill passing into law in its current form. The ability for sex workers to advertise their services online has been one of the greatest weapons in the fight to protect sex workers from violence and abuse, and to promote safety and solidarity in the community. Sex workers are able to advertise, vet clients and increase safety measures much more easily than they could otherwise. If websites like Adultwork and Vivastreet are forced to remove content advertising sexual services, thousands of sex workers will be forced back onto the street, which will inevitably lead to a sharp increase in incidents of violence and abuse.
Similar legislation passed in the US in 2018 - SESTA/FOSTA , aimed at criminalising the owners of websites for trafficking content posted by third parties. This targets sex workers who advertise online. There has been an increase of violence and exploitation due to the number of sex workers pushed onto the street, and a reduction in sex workers' ability to access support services.
If the Online Safety Bill is passed in its current form, sex workers will be exposed to more harm not less.
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