Crimes and Safety in the Online Sex Industry

In this chapter, we explore the types of crimes that Internet-based sex workers’ experience, and the rise of new forms of crimes such as harassment, stalking, unwanted contact and misuse of information and images. We assess the role of the Internet and technology in safety strategies, uncovering some of the ways in which technology benefits sex workers’ ability to keep safe, but at the same time, technology generates some additional risks. Alongside crime, risks in this sector relate to additional privacy issues for online working—something which is an everyday concern for many working through online spaces. This research adds significantly to the literature on crime and safety in the online sector and also highlights how current UK laws can restrict rather than promote safety for people working in this sector.