Last week, Visa joined MasterCard in announcing that it will no longer allow cardholders to make any purchases using the classified advertising website Backpage. This announcement came after a great deal of public pressure from law enforcement, centering around a campaign waged by Sheriff Tom Dart of Cook County, Illinois.
This campaign alleges that Backpage plays a major role in the global sex-trafficking of both women and children. The sheriff said that it is "increasingly indefensible for any corporation to wilfully play a central role in an industry that reaps its cash from the victimisation of women and girls across the world. In a separate statement, Visa defended its position, saying that the company "has a long history of working with law enforcement to safeguard the integrity of the payment system.
Let's be clear. I am not in favour of sexual slavery, sex-trafficking, or the sexual exploitation of individuals who cannot or do not give their consent. I am certainly not in favour of the sexual exploitation of children. Those who contribute to, or participate in, these activities are committing criminal acts and should be prosecuted to the greatest extent of the law.
However, Backpage has not violated the law. It is an online platform that offers the opportunity for individuals to advertise a wide array of goods and services. People use Backpage to advertise rooms for rent, sell old furniture, and post about community events. People also use it to advertise escort services or connect with others who share similar sexual inclinations and interests.
This portion of the website can only be accessed by adults, who must confirm that they are at least 18 years of age before logging on, and because many websites can be used for illicit purposes, it also provides a mechanism for users to report any activity that appears to be suspicious or illegal. Since the ban has been announced, Backpage and its users have experienced significant hardship. Bitcoin is the only currency that can still be used on the website. This makes using it extremely inconvenient.
