Last December, Craigslist eliminated the “Escort” link on its homepage in an effort to stop the underage prostitution and human trafficking that occured through the Web site. But the predators have simply moved their business to another site called www.backpage.com.
The Web site offers adult services, such as escort advertisements. Since Craigslist’s escort link was shut down, www.backpage.com has experienced more than $2 million in new revenue based on the price of their new adult ads. I don’t believe in coincidences. The pedophiles have found a new home.
Government authorities have already discovered cases of child prostitution in connection with www.backpage.com. A 13-year-old girl was sold through ads on the site, forced to have oral, vaginal and anal sex with numerous men. Despite this evidence, www.backpage.com hasn’t been charged with any crime. It hasn’t been forced to shut down its escort section.
According to the FBI, Web sites are the number one method for human traffickers to sell women, girls and boys for sex. The anonymity of the Internet helps to allay the fears of predators who are wary of getting caught by police. The Internet’s worldwide access also allows traffickers the ability to pedal victims to a larger market.
Investigations into underage sex trade and human trafficking have been going on for years. New technologies have been put in place to help track these monsters. However, this latest update proves that our government isn’t making much headway in the effort to stop these hideous crimes.
As you read this, a child is being auctioned off to the highest bidder. These children aren’t being brutalized in a brothel in Eastern Europe. These girls and boys aren’t being asaulted in a run-down massage parlor in Thailand. They are being sold on a Web site that is just a few clicks away. It’s happening right in front of us.
Children need protecting and it’s our job to do it. If you want something done right, do it yourself. We need to shut down this link, permanently.
Just like shutting down Craigslist’s escort link, this isn’t a solution, shutting down backpage.com’s escort section isn’t the ultimate answer. But it’s a start.
It proves that we care. It shows that we won’t stand for this. And it shows every pedophile that we’re watching, we’re waiting, and, eventually, we’re going to catch them.
