Bill Overview
Title: SAFE SEX Workers Study Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to study the impacts of the reduction in access to certain websites and other interactive computer services resulting from the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 on individuals engaged in adult, consensual sex work. Specifically, HHS must study the impacts of the reduction on the health and safety of individuals engaged in transactional sex while DOJ must study the impacts of the reduction on human trafficking investigations and prosecutions.
Sponsors: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Target Audience
Population: People engaged in adult, consensual sex work
Estimated Size: 80000
- The bill is focused on individuals engaged in adult, consensual sex work.
- According to a UNAIDS report, there are an estimated 42 million sex workers globally.
- SESTA/FOSTA had significant online impacts, which shifted platforms sex workers used globally, potentially impacting millions.
- Sex work is prevalent in many regions, including Europe, Asia, and Africa, where legal frameworks differ.
Reasoning
- Considering the target population of around 80,000 individuals engaged in consensual sex work in the US, this study is designed to capture diverse perspectives from within and peripheral to the sex work community.
- The policy aims to study the impact on health and safety due to the shift from online platforms, but the study does not offer direct monetary support or legal changes, thus the potential direct impact in terms of wellbeing might be limited.
- The diversity of the population includes variations in age, socio-economic backgrounds, types of involvement in sex work, and degrees of online reliance before SESTA/FOSTA.
- Given budgetary constraints, the study must prioritize gathering qualitative and quantitative data representative of the various sub-groups within the sex work community, along with broader societal perspectives to examine indirect impacts.
Simulated Interviews
Sex Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The loss of online platforms forced me to work more on the streets, which feels less safe.
- I hope this study highlights the pressures we face due to legal changes.
- Without the internet, finding clients is riskier and more difficult.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Sex Worker (New York, NY)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The crackdown has led to more dangerous client meetups.
- I am hoping for more safety measures and legal protections after the study.
- My network completely shattered post-SESTA/FOSTA.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Former Sex Worker (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't engage in sex work now, but I see my peers struggling more post-crackdown.
- The study should account for both current and former workers to assess long-term impacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
University Student (Dallas, TX)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I turned to sex work after tuition increased.
- SESTA/FOSTA made it harder to find trustworthy clients.
- Balancing safety and financial needs is challenging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Independent Escort (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I felt safer behind my computer screen.
- The policy's study might help regain some online safety measures.
- It's not just working, it's providing for my kid.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Police Officer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While SESTA/FOSTA intends to protect, it complicates policing.
- Understanding its actual effect on sex work can adjust our approach.
- Human trafficking links are complex.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Social Worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- SESTA/FOSTA has created more issues than solutions.
- We keep seeing worsened mental health and more isolation among my clients.
- Hoping for comprehensive insights from the study.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Dancer (Miami, FL)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Online shifts have made supplemental work harder to find.
- Income volatility has increased, breaking previous steadiness.
- A return to digital space would be helpful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Client (Houston, TX)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried the law incites unsafe practices inadvertently.
- It's not just about the workers, but those of us who also seek companionship.
- The ripple effects of restricting communication are real.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Agency Owner (Las Vegas, NV)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Regulations have shrunk worker pool, impacting my agency.
- I hope this study shows the need for balanced industry regulation.
- Both workers and clients are affected in different ways.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $8000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 2: $8000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 3: $8000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 5: $4000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The study's scope is limited to research activities rather than immediate economic or tax revenue impacts.
- The outcomes of the study could have broader implications on SESTA/FOSTA-related legal practices and policies, potentially influencing future budgets.
- Lack of historical precedence for similar studies could lead to unforeseen financial requirements.
- Research findings may stimulate new investments in digital service platforms if there are calls for regulatory changes.