Though prostitution is quasi-legal in Canada, Craigslist has finally caved to governmental pressure and removed the “erotic services” section from its Canadian sites. Government officials say they were worried that Craigslist's erotic services section was promoting sexual slavery.
John Lowman, a prostitution expert, and Simon Fraser University's criminology professor, says the move is counter-intuitive. "Police agencies were having some success finding people involved in trafficking and child prostitution by monitoring Craigslist. So they’re closing down one of the best law enforcement tools they appear to have.”
Activist and sex worker Susan Davis thinks the government just made sex work that much more dangerous. “It’s unfortunate they’ve taken away a relatively safe way for workers to meet [and] screen clients. We’re going to see an increase in street prostitution and all the problems associated with that.” she says.
Escort ad website owner (not to be confused with an escort service) Ray Wolfe agrees. Wolfe says that people involved in trafficking and child prostitution have the means to go elsewhere, and will. He says the only people this maneuver is hurting are the low-end escorts who used Craigslist to advertise because it was free. “Those people might go out of business, the independents. But, it's counterproductive to do what the government wants to do. Besides, as of 8 p.m. Friday night, my phones got busier.”
And anyway, he says, Canada's Charter of Rights lists commercial expression as a "fundamental and guaranteed right." So, Canada: What’s going on with that?
John Lowman, a prostitution expert, and Simon Fraser University's criminology professor, says the move is counter-intuitive. "Police agencies were having some success finding people involved in trafficking and child prostitution by monitoring Craigslist. So they’re closing down one of the best law enforcement tools they appear to have.”
Activist and sex worker Susan Davis thinks the government just made sex work that much more dangerous. “It’s unfortunate they’ve taken away a relatively safe way for workers to meet [and] screen clients. We’re going to see an increase in street prostitution and all the problems associated with that.” she says.
Escort ad website owner (not to be confused with an escort service) Ray Wolfe agrees. Wolfe says that people involved in trafficking and child prostitution have the means to go elsewhere, and will. He says the only people this maneuver is hurting are the low-end escorts who used Craigslist to advertise because it was free. “Those people might go out of business, the independents. But, it's counterproductive to do what the government wants to do. Besides, as of 8 p.m. Friday night, my phones got busier.”
And anyway, he says, Canada's Charter of Rights lists commercial expression as a "fundamental and guaranteed right." So, Canada: What’s going on with that?
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