A study published in Social Sciences by CUNY SPH suggests that laws criminalizing sex work do not prevent human trafficking and instead leave sex workers vulnerable to coercion and unsafe conditions.

The researchers conducted a national survey, developed in collaboration with sex workers across the U.S., and found that many sex workers rely on various online platforms. However, recent laws banning the promotion of prostitution have led these platforms to remove or limit sex workers’ access, restricting their ability to earn income and compromising their safety.

Sex workers have been at the forefront of using online platforms to advertise services, screen clients, collect payments, and interact with peers. But laws like the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) and the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA), which allow law enforcement to prosecute online providers perceived to be promoting sex work, have pushed platforms to adopt restrictive policies to avoid legal consequences.

Unsafe work

The study shows that these laws have made it more difficult for sex workers to live and work safely. Without access to platforms for advertising and client screening, sex workers may be forced into riskier situations, such as seeking clients in public spaces or accepting potentially dangerous interactions.

The impact of these laws is not felt equally among all sex workers. The study found that income loss and safety risks are more pronounced for non-white, gender-expansive, and disabled sex workers compared to their white, cisgender, and non-disabled counterparts.

Among sex workers, scholars, and advocates, there is growing agreement that laws like SESTA and FOSTA do little to protect sex workers’ safety. This study adds weight to the arguments for repealing these laws.