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 traffickers, including pimps, determined Backpage.com was a perfect way to advertise their victims' services on Backpage without notable interference from law enforcement and government agencies.

The website's design and features helped the exploitation of vulnerable people through the anonymity of online profiles, which allowed traffickers to hide their identities. Backpage.com also had a system that let traffickers change their ads at any given moment to hide harmful details, making it hard for law enforcement to find or stop them.

Despite a multitude of reports and investigations, Backpage.com continued to operate for years, profiting from the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The company's executives had knowledge and awareness of the illegal activities on their platform but took no meaningful or notable steps to prevent it. They failed to implement an effective age verification program and knowingly edited ads in collaboration with sex traffickers.

The Scars of Trafficking: Consequences for the Victims of sex trafficking

Human trafficking has lasting, devastating consequences for victims, with the potential impacts including lifelong physical and mental trauma, such as broken bones, sexually transmitted diseases and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

At Romanucci & Blandin, our attorneys who represent survivors of sexual abuse are actively working to aid the victims of Backpage.com and other human and sex trafficking-related crimes to fight for the transformative justice they deserve. The team advocates for our clients with state and federal government representatives to pursue changes to laws to protect individuals from exploitation on websites like Backpage.com.

Hope for Healing: Resources Available

For victims or families impacted by Backpage.com and similar websites or situations, there are resources available to help:

• National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
• Office for Victims of Crime
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
• Youth Collaboratory
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
• National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking

These organizations provide support services, mental health resources and legal assistance to help survivors rebuild their lives.

Moving Forward: Eradicating Trafficking

The closure of Backpage.com is a step in the right direction, but the fight against human trafficking continues to this day. We as a community and society must stay vigilant and support organizations working to eradicate this heinous and devastating crime.

Additionally, here are things you can do to help:

• Educate yourself and others about the signs of human trafficking.
• Report suspected trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
• Support organizations working to end human trafficking.

We can create a world where no one is exploited by working together.