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FOSTA

Rep. Ro Khanna | Dominic Gwinn/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Sex Work

The SAFE SEX Workers Study Act, a Bill Aimed at Ultimately Repealing FOSTA, Is Back 

The bill is meant as a first step toward repealing FOSTA, the 2018 law that amended Section 230 and criminalized hosting adult ads.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 12.18.2024 11:45 AM

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris toy figures | 	Ciro Fusco/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Election 2024

A Bad Election for Sex and for Tech

No matter who wins, we can expect bad policies surrounding sex and especially surrounding technology. 

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 11.4.2024 11:30 AM

Sex workers protest in Los Angeles in December 2023 | Jake Lee Green/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Sex Work

Deplatforming Doesn't Make Sex Work Safer

Another study shows FOSTA failed.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 9.4.2024 11:38 AM

Kamala Harris with Michael Lacey from Backpage | Ting Shen - Pool via CNP/Newscom, Hector Amezcua/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Sex Work

Backpage: The Monumental Free Speech Case the Media Ignored

The mere act of publishing sex ads online is enough to send most potential free speech allies scurrying for the exits.

Matt Welch | 11.18.2023 10:00 AM

An animation of a nude man and woman embracing | Illustration: Lex Villena; Lasse Kristensen,  Starast

Pornography

Talking About Sex Online Shouldn't Be Illegal

Porn sites and other online spaces with adult content are fun; they’re also important sources of community and information.

Jessica Stoya | 8.28.2023 3:35 PM

A federal appeals court upheld FOSTA but endorsed a narrow interpretation of its prohibition on promoting or facilitating prostitution. | Illustration: Lex Villena; Elena Garder | Dreamstime.com

Civil Liberties

Court Says Prostitution Law Doesn't Violate First Amendment but Language Should Be Interpreted Narrowly

Plus: Democrats dismiss nonwhite moderates, Schumer wants investigation into energy drink, GOP prosecutors threaten Target over Pride merchandise, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 7.10.2023 9:31 AM

person looking at phone in front of the Twitter logo | Rafael Henrique/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Reason Roundup

Appeals Court Dismisses Lawsuit Accusing Twitter of Sex Trafficking

Plus: Connecticut may exonerate witches, federal regulators are waging a quiet war on crypto, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 5.5.2023 9:30 AM

5 years after the Backpage shutdown, sex workers—and free speech—are still suffering. | Lex Villena

Backpage

5 Years After the Backpage Shutdown, Sex Workers—and Free Speech—Are Still Suffering

As former Backpage execs await their August trial, the shutdown is still worsening the lives it was supposed to improve.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 4.7.2023 11:45 AM

teenage boy at a laptop | Maria Diachenko/Westend61 GmbH/Newscom

Reason Roundup

Lawmakers Use Kid Safety as Excuse To Violate Adults' Rights

Plus: New York "hate speech" law is likely unconstitutional, FTC Commissioner quits because of chair Lina Khan's antics, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 2.15.2023 9:33 AM

sex worker rights protest with people holding signs that say "FOSTA SESTA has a body count" and "sex work is work" | Pietro Recchia/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

FOSTA

Appeals Court Panel Seems Skeptical That FOSTA Doesn't Violate the First Amendment

The 2018 law criminalizes websites that "promote or facilitate" prostitution. Two of three judges on the panel pushed back against government claims that this doesn't criminalize speech.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 1.18.2023 10:46 AM

Reddit logo against red background | Avishek Das/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

FOSTA

Reddit Is Not Guilty of Sex Trafficking, Says Court

In a post-FOSTA world, Section 230 still protects websites from lawsuits over criminal sexual conduct by their users.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 11.3.2022 1:45 PM

triple Xs over the Constitution | Illustration: Lex Villena; Elena Garder | Dreamstime.com

First Amendment

There's No Way FOSTA Isn't a First Amendment Violation, Says Lawsuit

The case is now on appeal after a lower court said the ban on websites promoting prostitution didn't concern protected speech.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 9.16.2022 8:16 AM

zumaamericasthirtythree418925(3) | Media Drum World/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

FOSTA

The Sex-Ad Law FOSTA Was a Mistake. Some Lawmakers Want to Fix It.

The SAFE SEX Workers Study Act would look at the impact of FOSTA and the seizure of sites like Backpage and Rentboy.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.9.2022 3:06 PM

Twitter screwed | Fanatic Studio/Gary Waters/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Newscom

Social Media

As Twitter Sex Trafficking Case Proceeds, Platforms Face an Impossible Dilemma

A federal judge says an anti-porn group's suit against Twitter can move forward, in a case that could portend a dangerous expansion of how courts define "sex trafficking."

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 9.3.2021 8:30 AM

sfphotosthree371804 | Chris Kleponis/SIPA/Newscom

Sex Trafficking

FOSTA's Failure: The 2018 Sex Trafficking Law Has Been Worse Than Useless So Far

The only thing FOSTA has done is chill speech and make catching sex traffickers more difficult. 

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 6.30.2021 2:15 PM

ptsphotoshotfour067152 | Euan Cherry / Avalon/Avalon/Newscom

Reason Roundup

Science-Based Policy Means Decriminalizing Sex Work, Say Hundreds of Researchers

Plus: ACLU joins fight for donor privacy, Parler drops lawsuit against Amazon, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.3.2021 9:30 AM

Trump signing FOSTA into law on April 11, 2018 | Chris Kleponis/SIPA/Newscom

Reason Roundup

FOSTA Is Unconstitutional, Argue Sexual Freedom Advocates and First Amendment Lawyers in New Motion

Plus: People have doubts about democracy, Washington state sues Juul, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 9.3.2020 9:30 AM

topicssex | Favor_of_God/iStock

Sex

The Future of FOSTA May Be Frivolous Lawsuits 

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 4.30.2020 6:30 AM

krtillustrationslive013314 | Bausmith/TNS/Newscom

Section 230

The EARN IT Act Is the New FOSTA

The new bill takes aim at internet freedom and privacy under the pretense of saving kids.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.18.2020 12:15 PM

Trump signing FOSTA | April 2018 | SMG/ZUMA Press/Newscom

FOSTA

Ro Khanna Hopes This Bill Will Pave the Way to Repealing FOSTA

Since FOSTA passed in 2018, "sex workers have faced increased violence" and "have been forced onto the streets," the California congressman says.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 12.5.2019 12:45 PM

zumaamericastwentytwo566670 | Igor Golovniov/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Sex Trafficking

Judge Poised to Reject Suit by 90 'Jane Does' Who Say Salesforce Is Responsible for Sex Trafficking

The cases hinges on two laws—FOSTA and Section 230—that have been hotly contested in recent years.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 9.24.2019 3:15 PM

dreamstime_l_144028716 | © Dreamstime

Sex

Foggy Sex Trafficking Stats Pop Up in the Bay Area

Did San Francisco really see a 170 percent "spike in human trafficking" last year?

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 4.20.2019 6:00 AM

Large image on homepages | Erik Mcgregor/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Reason Roundup

FOSTA's First Test Targets Cloud Company Used by Backpage

Plus: a Robert Kraft/spa-sting update, Florida sex-buyer registry nixed, D.C. activist alleges entrapment, and more sex-work and sex-policy news.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.28.2019 9:30 AM

Large image on homepages | screenshot of Terrell J. Starr interviewing Harris

Sex Work

Kamala Harris Won't Denounce Federal Law That Harms Sex Workers, but May Support Decriminalizing Prostitution

"I think that we have to understand though that it is not as simple as that."

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 2.26.2019 3:28 PM

Large image on homepages | David Chestnutt IKON Images/Newscom

FOSTA

Last Year Saw 'Furthest-Reaching Attempt to Censor Online Speech' Since the 1990s, Say FOSTA Challengers

As the lawsuit against FOSTA hits appeals court, three essays about the law that everyone should read.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 2.14.2019 3:18 PM

Large image on homepages | Ken Cedeno/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Criminal Justice

Hello, FIRST STEP Act! Goodbye, Jeff Sessions! The Year in Criminal Justice Reform

2018 was a mixed bag, but that means there was still a lot of good news.

Scott Shackford | 12.27.2018 2:40 PM

Large image on homepages

Reason Roundup

Facebook Cripples Community Organizing With Overzealous Attempts to Stop Russian Trolls: Reason Roundup

Plus: Trump changes his mind about military spending and why Rand Paul hates Trump's new attorney general pick.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 12.10.2018 9:30 AM

Large image on homepages | Omar Marques/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Reason Roundup

Facebook Supported 'Sex Trafficking' Law FOSTA to Cozy Up to Republican Critics: Reason Roundup

Plus: Trump endorses sentencing reform and Bitcoin's value continues to fall.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 11.15.2018 9:36 AM

Large image for longform feature pages. | Stephen Lemons

Backpage

The Senate Accused Them of Selling Kids for Sex. The FBI Raided Their Homes. Backpage.com's Founders Speak for the First Time.

An inside look at how indie media veterans James Larkin and Michael Lacey became the targets of a federal witchhunt.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 8.21.2018 8:25 AM

Large image on homepages | modified from Alex Endelman/SIPA/Newscom

Reason Roundup

Surprise! The Ban on Digital Sex Ads Didn't Work

Plus: digital privacy concerns down 11 percent since 2015

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 8.20.2018 9:30 AM

Large image on homepages | screenshot/CSPAN

FOSTA

House Passes 'Anti Sex-Trafficking' Bill Opposed by Both DOJ and Trafficking Survivors

The bill makes "promoting prostitution" a federal crime, holds websites legally liable for user-posted content, and lets states retroactively prosecute offenders.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 2.28.2018 1:30 PM

Large image on homepages | Gregory Baldwin IKON Images/Newscom

FOSTA

Posting or Hosting Sex Ads Could Mean 25 Years in Federal Prison Under New Republican Proposal

A related measure would open digital platforms to liability for past crimes committed by users.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 12.11.2017 3:55 PM

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