The story of a Backpage.com-hosted listing of a minor available for sex that led to her death at the hands of a male solicitor is a horrific reminder of the human cost of online sex trafficking. Backpage.com was more than a website; it became a breeding ground for exploitation and facilitated the abuse of countless victims.

Once a basic website for classified ads, essentially a Craigslist clone, it evolved into a dark hub for human trafficking, including the sexual exploitation of individuals. The friendly classifieds façade hid a brutal underworld that ruined countless lives. Sex ...