HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

The Rise and Fall of Backpage

Views:1020
@ReasonVids

Michael Lacey and James Larkin's website, Backpage.com was seized in April 2018 and they were arrested for allegedly facilitating prostitution. They have maintained their innocence, saying the publishing on their website, which included adult ads and general classifieds, is protected by the First Amendment.

#FOSTA #KamalaHarris #Backpage
------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/reasontv
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason
Subscribe to our podcast at Apple Podcasts: https://goo.gl/az3a7a

Reason is the leading source of news, politics, and culture from a libertarian perspective. Go to reason.com for a point of view you won't get from legacy media and old left-right opinion magazines.

------------------

On the morning of April 6, 2018, the FBI arrested Michael Lacey and James Larkin and seized Backpage.com, the website they created in 2004, on allegations that it was a platform for underage sex trafficking. Lacey and Larkin were later charged with money laundering, conspiracy, and facilitating prostitution. The two men have maintained their innocence and are now confined to Maricopa County, Arizona, via ankle monitors. Their trial is scheduled for 2020.

Veteran newspaper publishers, Lacey and Larkin see their arrest and prosecution as an assault on the First Amendment. In the early 1970s, they built an alt-weekly empire specializing in muckraking journalism. In the process, they made enemies of powerful figures in Arizona politics, including John McCain, his wife, Cindy, and former Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

After the internet and Craigslist gutted their business model, Lacey and Larkin launched Backpage.com, an online version of the classified sections of their print newspapers. Illegal activity was never allowed on Backpage, but sex workers advertised their services via innuendo. Connecting with clients online turned out to be considerably safer than walking the streets or working for a pimp. The internet empowered sex workers.

Lacey and Larkin were able to fend off legal challenges thanks to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA), which said that website platforms aren't responsible for third party content. As sex work became conflated with sex trafficking, that defense was eroded.

Lost in the panic was Lacey and Larkin's behind-the-scenes collaboration with law enforcement in responding to subpoenas and even training vice officers on how to use the site to catch traffickers. Backpage's Carl Ferrer even received a certificate from then-FBI Chief Robert Mueller for his outstanding cooperation helping with sex trafficking investigations.

This is the story of the rise and fall of a newspaper empire, and how a new moral crusade is endangering sex workers, shielding traffickers, empowering pimps, and undermining free speech online.

Written, shot, produced, edited, graphics, and narrated by Paul Detrick. Additional camera by Todd Krainin, Zach Weissmuller, Meredith Bragg, Alexis Garcia, Mark McDaniel, and Justin Monticello.

Dreams Become Real by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1500027
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Darkest Child A by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100783
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Darkest Child by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100783
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Feather Waltz by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100658
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Full credits: https://reason.com/video/war-on-backpage-com-is-a-war-on-sex-workers/

backpage
,
ashton kutcher
,
free speech
,
fosta
,
sesta
,
sex trafficking
,
human trafficking
,
michael lacey
,
james larkin
,
backpage.com
,
children of the night
,
kamala harris
    Thumbnail for Remy: Democratic Debate (The Rap)1:44
    Remy: Democratic Debate (The Rap)
    ReasonVids
    876 views
    Thumbnail for Should America Open Its Borders? Reason Presents a Debate on Immigration36:50
    Should America Open Its Borders? Reason Presents a Debate on Immigration
    ReasonVids
    740 views
    Thumbnail for Boston's Mayor Instantly Regrets Asking For Feedback On Her Live Video, Panic Sets In1:23
    Boston's Mayor Instantly Regrets Asking For Feedback On Her Live Video, Panic Sets In
    AOU
    1511 views
    Thumbnail for The dog knows0:06
    The dog knows
    AOUisgay
    345 views
    Thumbnail for Want to Buy Stock in Your Corner Bistro? The Gov't Opens Venture Capital Markets to the Masses3:23
    Want to Buy Stock in Your Corner Bistro? The Gov't Opens Venture Capital Markets to the Masses
    ReasonVids
    933 views
    Thumbnail for Should the Supreme Court Allow Us to "Go to Hell"?17:19
    Should the Supreme Court Allow Us to "Go to Hell"?
    ReasonVids
    685 views
    Thumbnail for Trinity School NYC Director of Student Activities Touts Sneaking Political Agenda Into Classrooms | Project Veritas7:44
    Trinity School NYC Director of Student Activities Touts Sneaking Political Agenda Into Classrooms | Project Veritas
    bestofpoal
    963 views
    Thumbnail for Intervention: A Success Story!3:08
    Intervention: A Success Story!
    ReasonVids
    921 views
    Thumbnail for Johan Norberg - Swedish Myths and Realities5:59
    Johan Norberg - Swedish Myths and Realities
    ReasonVids
    911 views
    Thumbnail for In Praise of Psychedelics: Rick Doblin and the MAPS Project6:43
    In Praise of Psychedelics: Rick Doblin and the MAPS Project
    ReasonVids
    985 views
    Thumbnail for Remy: Trigger (Michael Jackson Thriller Parody)3:07
    Remy: Trigger (Michael Jackson Thriller Parody)
    ReasonVids
    768 views
    Thumbnail for Mr. Burns Goes for a Check Up2:02
    Mr. Burns Goes for a Check Up
    clips
    908 views
    Thumbnail for A Great Year For Pot, Freedom, and Ending the Drug War: Q&A with MPP's Rob Kampia5:10
    A Great Year For Pot, Freedom, and Ending the Drug War: Q&A with MPP's Rob Kampia
    ReasonVids
    939 views
    Thumbnail for Don Moen Radio ✝️ 24/7 LIVE Christian Music with Lyrics | Don Moen Worship Songs1:00
    Don Moen Radio ✝️ 24/7 LIVE Christian Music with Lyrics | Don Moen Worship Songs
    invidious
    280 views
    Thumbnail for Her Back Workout: AMAZING Control!🤩 | Squat University0:59
    Her Back Workout: AMAZING Control!🤩 | Squat University
    invidious
    125 views
    Thumbnail for Florist License?! Tim Keller Discusses IJ's Challenge to Louisiana's Law2:22
    Florist License?! Tim Keller Discusses IJ's Challenge to Louisiana's Law
    IJvids
    778 views
    Thumbnail for The Trick To Getting Out Gum... (The Simpsons)3:06
    The Trick To Getting Out Gum... (The Simpsons)
    clips
    815 views
    Thumbnail for We Want It Both Ways | Ride and Roast37:31
    We Want It Both Ways | Ride and Roast
    Terrence Popp
    2458 views
    Thumbnail for Bin Bon duck Monkey Baby Kittens Puppy Goes Koi Cat And swims Rabbits Animals Eats Egg Muckbang Asmr | Monkey Oxy1:00
    Bin Bon duck Monkey Baby Kittens Puppy Goes Koi Cat And swims Rabbits Animals Eats Egg Muckbang Asmr | Monkey Oxy
    invidious
    333 views
    Thumbnail for We actually need more games like this.. | Hollow2:03:22
    We actually need more games like this.. | Hollow
    invidious
    304 views
    Thumbnail for Mira las imágenes del terremoto que provocó alerta de tsunami en California | Huguitoo8:11
    Mira las imágenes del terremoto que provocó alerta de tsunami en California | Huguitoo
    invidious
    119 views
    Thumbnail for Leave the Strand Alone! Iconic Bookstore Owner Pleads With NYC: Don't Landmark My Property6:51
    Leave the Strand Alone! Iconic Bookstore Owner Pleads With NYC: Don't Landmark My Property
    ReasonVids
    972 views
    Thumbnail for "Go Topless Day": What We Saw at the 5th Annual Protest2:35
    "Go Topless Day": What We Saw at the 5th Annual Protest
    ReasonVids
    850 views
    Thumbnail for Tucker Carlson on The Daily Caller, Jon Stewart, & Libertarianism10:01
    Tucker Carlson on The Daily Caller, Jon Stewart, & Libertarianism
    ReasonVids
    1044 views

points

Permalink
Reply
backpage
,
ashton kutcher
,
free speech
,
fosta
,
sesta
,
sex trafficking
,
human trafficking
,
michael lacey
,
james larkin
,
backpage.com
,
children of the night
,
kamala harris
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle