Congressional Moral Panic Over The Fact That Prostitutes Now Use Twitter
from the moral-panic-jackpot dept
Politicians seem to love nothing more than to go into full on grandstanding mode whenever you mix the internet and prostitution, leaving pretty much all facts by the wayside. This often results in massively exaggerated claims about the size of the (very serious) issue of human trafficking, but more bizarrely, it almost always seeks to put the blame on websites used by prostitution organizations.Years ago, the target was Craigslist because prostitution rings used the site to advertise. The groups who organized this attack celebrated when they finally (based on no legal reason) hounded Craigslist into shutting down certain services, totally oblivious to the fact that this does absolutely nothing to stop prostitution. In fact, smart law enforcement folks realized that rather than blaming the online service providers, working with them would allow them to investigate and arrest lawbreakers. Shutting down those services doesn't lead to stopping any prostitution, it just makes it move elsewhere.
For example, after the attack on Craigslist, many just moved on to Facebook and Backpage. And, now, a breathless article in TheStreet (complete with obnoxious autoplay video! -- you have been warned) talks about the shocking fact that prostitutes also use Twitter. As if this is a surprise.
But, of course, the article comes complete with Congressional idiots grandstanding about how this is a "big problem" for Twitter:
Notified by TheStreet of its investigation that revealed that escort services were using Twitter, Rep. Chris Smith (R., N.J.) urged that Congress investigate. Smith sits on the subcommittee investigating human trafficking, which held hearings Monday on prostitution at sporting events, including this week's Super Bowl in New Jersey.Of course, the way you conduct a "crackdown" is to investigate those who are actually breaking the law: not the tools they use. But, of course, going after prostitutes is a lot less interesting than going after big famous internet companies. So guess who's getting dragged to Congress?
Addressing Ambassador-at-Large Luis CdeBaca of the U.S. State Department's office to monitor and combat human trafficking, Smith asked at the subcommittee hearing that he speak to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to initiate a crackdown on Twitter, Backpage, Craigslist and other social media "that are the conduit for this terrible exploitation of women."
Following that meeting, Smith, who serves as chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, said he plans to convene a House of Representatives subcommittee hearing later this year, and intends to ask Twitter executives to testify on Capitol Hill to address the issue.Much of the ridiculous TheStreet article focuses on the fact that they're shocked (shocked!) that Twitter hasn't magically found all of the prostitutes using Twitter and killed their accounts. Because, apparently, TheStreet reporter Jonathan Marino thinks that Twitter has staffers who sort through the profiles of all ~700 million active Twitter account holders and can tell which ones are prostitutes and which are not.
"I'm going to look at putting together a hearing to focus on Twitter," Smith said. "We'll look to do a hearing very soon."
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Filed Under: 3rd party liability, chris smith, congress, human trafficking, moral panics, prostitution, section 230, service providers
Companies: thestreet, twitter
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All they ever seem to succeed in is moving the problem elsewhere. Prostitution is a demand-side problem, and where there's a demand, someone will supply it. If you can't kill the demand, it's better to take a pragmatic approach. Legalize it, already!
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Taboo, misconceptions and money. That's what keeps this from becoming an official work.
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But, But....
Then where are our elected representative going to go find their prostitutes?
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but nothing can compete with free, surely ?
Did she sell you a T shirt as well ?
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hee hee hee
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Roads too
We need to investigate who funded these lights, highways and byways! A congressional committee could convene to investigate.... the House Transportation Committee.
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Think Widerer!
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"In fact, smart law enforcement folks realized that rather than blaming the online service providers"
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Re: "In fact, smart law enforcement folks realized that rather than blaming the online service providers"
Nice jump to Conclusions, enjoy your swim back through the Sea of Knowledge.
Valid court orders targeting specific individuals and/or specific activities that include sufficient probable cause are not "extra-judicial" nor "illegal coercion". Those are valid avenues for law enforcement to use to catch criminals.
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Flag
1. They are being paid to do so by a powerful lobby
2. They are trying to act conspicuously opposed to something they are doing on the side on a regular basis
e.g. Senator Larry Craig
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Soliciting sex for money (or vice versa).
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A Reasonable Solution
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Hang on a mo...
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But hey it's unlawful in the USofA so it must be STOPPED!!! with force and much banging of drums etc etc yadda yadda by idiot American buffoons whenever they get their sexually repressed knickers in a twist
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Are you sure about that?
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Is Prostitution Illegal?
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Investigate speech
For example, last month, I heard a prostitute ask if I wanted sex, even though English was not her native language.
Anyone who uses English should be investigated. That way, it can be determined which ones are using English which normally don't, and we know that prostitutes don't normally use English.
By collecting information on all of them that use English, we can determine which ones are the ones that are using English to solicit sex services
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Taxicabs
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The conversation over at the DOJ probably sounded like this verbatim: "Yes, let's focus on Twitter...and teach those fuckers a lesson."
Because cops and judges actually sound and act like that these days.
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Cybersex
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Congress Critters panic that Prostitutes user Twitter
Oh My! That is far worse than the fact that congress critters use prostitutes.
So does this mean that congress critters indirectly support Twitter -- which is used by prostitutes? Or do congress critters themselves use Twitter to engage prostitutes and that is the basis of their concern?
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Prostitutes
Prostitutes on the Hill = Nothing to see here, move along.
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the internet and prostituion
Nice to see at least one poster understands that human trafficing and prostitution are not the same thing. I lot of the prostitutes out there are just trying to pay their way though college. Not to minimize the horrors of the woemen, girls and boys who are forced into it. But it is fairly easy to tell which ones are doing it on their own. If they show up at your hotel room with a big black dude who stands outside your door, its a safe bet the women is there for the fun of it.
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Re: the internet and prostituion
Is that who you bring along, and as a plus get to ride in the car pool lane?
Or was it your hotel room?
Enquiring minds and all.
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Ooops!
Twitter in conjunction with local police, raided a known hotel for debauchary. With evidence in hand, they responded to a twitter ad, #medoanythingforyou. It contained phrases such as, "you got the money? I'll give you a good time", "always a happy ending" and "I'm just a whore and I love it."
Former Sen. Chris Dodd was the first of many lobbyists and congressmen in the raid.
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".... lobbyists and congressmen arrested in the raid."
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...and no records of Rome showing they had Twitter and the internet, even though there are Latin words to describe those whose jobs were that. Words like prōstitūta. Then there are the Middle Ages where they were called courtesans.
According to this article none of these "services" could have existed without the internet. That being so vital to the prostitute being able to make a deal with the John.
See what sort of history you learn everyday right here at TD? /s
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Surely they wouldn't abuse twitter?
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Should be a piece of cake for the NSA.
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No moar sidewalks!!!
BAN SIDEWALKS!!!
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