Seattle Escorts: Kline Says Backpage Bill Needs To Be “Bomb Proof”
The biggest question looming over the legislative crackdown on escort ads is whether it would stand up to what Kline, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, called “inevitable litigation.” Legal issues involving protections for media advertising complicate the otherwise seemingly black and white issue of fighting child exploitation online.
Backpage’s parent company, Village Voice Media, has defended the site—which has been linked to the sexual exploitation of children—defending its escort ads as a First Amendment issue. (They make $20 million annually off the site.)
The mother of a young woman who was pimped out on Backpage.com offered a rejoinder to concerns about suppression of free speech at today’s hearing: “Whose voice are we protecting? Are we protecting the abuser? Are we protecting the buyer? Are we protecting the website that makes millions?” She added “I have a daughter that was convicted on prostitution charges at the age of 15. My entire family has been victimized.”
See the full article from “PubliCola”
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