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MasterCard and Visa sever ties with Backpage.com 'adult' section MasterCard and Visa sever ties with Backpage.com 'adult' section
(about 1 hour later)
MasterCard and Visa have removed themselves as payment options for the placement of advertisements in the “adult” section on the classified service website Backpage.com following a campaign by a police force in Illinois.MasterCard and Visa have removed themselves as payment options for the placement of advertisements in the “adult” section on the classified service website Backpage.com following a campaign by a police force in Illinois.
The move follows a request from the Cook County sheriff, Thomas Dart, who requested both credit card companies sever ties with Backpage.com via letters sent to executives on Monday.The move follows a request from the Cook County sheriff, Thomas Dart, who requested both credit card companies sever ties with Backpage.com via letters sent to executives on Monday.
Backpage.com has been a leading destination for sex service advertisements since 2010, after Craigslist shut down its adult services section. The website has faced lawsuits and scrutiny over its use by sex offenders for years.Backpage.com has been a leading destination for sex service advertisements since 2010, after Craigslist shut down its adult services section. The website has faced lawsuits and scrutiny over its use by sex offenders for years.
Strong federal laws protect Backpage from being liable for what is posted on its website.Strong federal laws protect Backpage from being liable for what is posted on its website.
“Backpage has significantly lowered the barrier to entry for would-be sex traffickers, giving them easy access to millions of johns while cloaking them in anonymity and putting all risk on the shoulders of their victims,” Dart said in a statement on Tuesday. “Raising that barrier will lead to less would-be sex traffickers entering the business and ultimately less victims.”“Backpage has significantly lowered the barrier to entry for would-be sex traffickers, giving them easy access to millions of johns while cloaking them in anonymity and putting all risk on the shoulders of their victims,” Dart said in a statement on Tuesday. “Raising that barrier will lead to less would-be sex traffickers entering the business and ultimately less victims.”
In April, Backpage published more than 1.4m adult services ads in the US, and brought in about $9m in revenue per month through that channel, the sheriff’s office said.In April, Backpage published more than 1.4m adult services ads in the US, and brought in about $9m in revenue per month through that channel, the sheriff’s office said.
A spokeswoman for Backpage said: “Thank you for your inquiry but we have no comment at this time.”A spokeswoman for Backpage said: “Thank you for your inquiry but we have no comment at this time.”
Currently, sex traffickers have to pay a certain amount of money based on their location – anywhere from $5 to $17 – to place an ad on the adult services section of the website. Before this week, anyone who wanted to place an ad could use Visa, MasterCard or bitcoin to make payments.Currently, sex traffickers have to pay a certain amount of money based on their location – anywhere from $5 to $17 – to place an ad on the adult services section of the website. Before this week, anyone who wanted to place an ad could use Visa, MasterCard or bitcoin to make payments.
“It kind of clicked to us that this wouldn’t be happening if Visa and MasterCard weren’t facilitating these purchases,” said the Cook County sheriff spokesman, Benjamin Breit.“It kind of clicked to us that this wouldn’t be happening if Visa and MasterCard weren’t facilitating these purchases,” said the Cook County sheriff spokesman, Benjamin Breit.
Breit said Dart felt the need to try to curb the number of sex offenders on Backpage because his office had arrested more than 800 people based on the website’s ads since 2009.Breit said Dart felt the need to try to curb the number of sex offenders on Backpage because his office had arrested more than 800 people based on the website’s ads since 2009.
“We’ve closed more than 15 cases of either sex trafficking or human trafficking or involuntary sexual servitude. Most of those have incorporated Backpage. We see these victims every day,” Breit said. “We’ve closed more than 50 cases of either sex trafficking or human trafficking or involuntary sexual servitude. Most of those have incorporated Backpage. We see these victims every day,” Breit said.
Dart detailed these concerns in his letters to MasterCard and Visa. The sheriff’s office said MasterCard removed itself on Tuesday, with Visa following suit on Wednesday morning.Dart detailed these concerns in his letters to MasterCard and Visa. The sheriff’s office said MasterCard removed itself on Tuesday, with Visa following suit on Wednesday morning.
“MasterCard has rules that prohibit our cards from being used for illegal or brand-damaging activities,” a MasterCard spokesman, Seth Eisen, said in a statement. “When the activity is confirmed, we work with the merchant’s bank to resolve the situation. Based on a request from the Cook County sheriff’s office, we contacted Backpage’s acquiring bank about the issue. They have advised us that they are terminating acceptance at this time.”“MasterCard has rules that prohibit our cards from being used for illegal or brand-damaging activities,” a MasterCard spokesman, Seth Eisen, said in a statement. “When the activity is confirmed, we work with the merchant’s bank to resolve the situation. Based on a request from the Cook County sheriff’s office, we contacted Backpage’s acquiring bank about the issue. They have advised us that they are terminating acceptance at this time.”
A spokesperson for Visa confirmed the company had taken action to stop processing payments for Backpage.com. “Visa’s rules prohibit our network from being used for illegal activity,” the spokesman said. “Visa has a long history of working with law enforcement to safeguard the integrity of the payment system and we will continue to do so.”A spokesperson for Visa confirmed the company had taken action to stop processing payments for Backpage.com. “Visa’s rules prohibit our network from being used for illegal activity,” the spokesman said. “Visa has a long history of working with law enforcement to safeguard the integrity of the payment system and we will continue to do so.”