On the recordApril 12, 2018
I want to recognize an important new law, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, or FOSTA. This landmark anti-trafficking legislation that I helped coauthor was just signed into law by the President this week, and it ushers in a new era of combating the online exploitation of trafficking victims. Last month, half a dozen Minnesota men were rolled up in an online underage trafficking sting. They had met what they believed were young girls advertised for sex on backpage.com, one of the worst offenders when it comes to exploiting trafficking victims. But when each of them showed up to the designated meeting spot, instead of finding teenage girls, they found law enforcement waiting for them. Sadly, there are more who are able to buy sex on websites like Backpage, but the new law will help us put a stop to that. Now it ensures that websites that facilitate sex trafficking will be held liable and held accountable for their actions. Backpage.com has now been taken over by Federal authorities. It isn't the only such site in existence, but it is a sign that their ability to profit from trafficking without consequence has come to an end. ____________________
