Anti-Trafficking in the Time of FOSTA/SESTA: Networked Moral Gentrification and Sexual Humanitarian Creep

Globally, sex workers have highlighted the harms that accompany anti-prostitution efforts advanced via anti-trafficking policy, and there is a growing body of social science research has emerged documenting how contribute to carceral sexual humanitarian interventions. Yet mounting evidence on policies done little quell passage more laws, including aimed at stopping exploitation facilitated by technology. The 2018 Allow States Victims Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) in U.S. House Representatives, corresponding Senate bill, Stop Enabling Traffickers (SESTA), case study curb online actually heighten vulnerabilities for people they purport protect. Drawing 34 months ethnographic fieldwork interviews with trafficked persons (n = 58) key informants 20) New York Los Angeles, we analyze FOSTA/SESTA its harmful effects as launchpad broadly explore technology, criminalization, shifting governance arrangements, conservative moralities cohere exacerbate workers’ vulnerability.