The co-founder of backpage commits suicide before US prostitution-related retrial in August 2023 While it may have been unknown in Canada, one of the

[Dave in Phoenix]

While it may have been unknown in Canada, one of the biggest old fashion newspapers with sexwork ads was backpage. It was owned by New Times until the founders sold it in 2015 retaining only backpage. Backpage closed its adult ad section in 2017 and the FBI seized the site in 2018. Owners Larkin and Lacey were indicted and the case, trial, and now retrial starting August 2023.

In March 1995 my Phoenix Liberated Christian, swing group was featured on the front page with very humorous art. The 4-page article has some minor errors and was written to be hilarious, but without the front-page art is at

ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SWINGERS LOOKING FOR GOD IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES? TRY THIS SUNDAY MEETING!
https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/new...s-try-this-sunday-meeting-6432987?storyPage=3

Jim Larkin, pioneering co-founder of Phoenix New Times, dead at 74 The award-winning publisher died by suicide days before the start of his retrial in federal court

 

[Dave in Phoenix]

In most respects, he was a genuine hero.

Backpage publisher, alt-weekly entrepreneur, and free speech warrior James Larkin has died

Larkin, 74, took his own life on Monday, just a little over a week before he was slated to stand trial for his role in running Backpage.

reason.com

I say that with just a tad bit of hesitation. Backpage made commercial sex a piece of cake for the common person, both buyers and sellers.

It resulted in a natural decrease in price with no screening hassles, but it brought to us all the baggage. Very easy for minors to use and circumvent the system, and a dream come true for scammers and police taking out fake ads.

Well said.
In the US police are still taking out fake ads but on internet sites in coordinated operations that started years ago under the direction of Cook Cty ILL Sheriff. They have female cops pictures/ads and get guys to respond and being dumb say the wrong thing on the phone or texts. The excuse of course is human trafficking and underaged which very few are but that is the media excuse. Massage parlor busts are also common.

 

[Anna Bijou]

I've read through a similar thread of theirs about this topic some months ago (it's linked a little further down - begins with tweet from August 2021).

Lots of good info about the bs, hipocrisy and politics behind the campaign against backpage and its original owners.. Good read.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1686758501111013376

 

[Obvio-0bvio]

Jim Larkin was a co-founder of the Phoenix New Times, a progressive and investigative newspaper known for its bold reporting and commitment to social justice. Larkin's influence extended beyond Phoenix, as he acquired and launched other alternative newspapers across the United States. However, his involvement with Backpage.com and the subsequent legal issues led to the decline of his media empire. Despite the controversies, Larkin's impact on alternative journalism remains significant and respected worldwide.


.

 

[Dave in Phoenix]

While I have hoped backpage would win, I had read some of the court filings as I often had followed Phoenix cases, and attended trials and pre-trial conferences, including over 200 reports on the Phoenix Goddess Temple Case, there is incriminating evidence related to child prostitution in the backpage case.

The State presented evidence that backpage (editors) altered submitted ads that implied being underaged by changing bad words before publishing. The State showed some of the altered ads were from pimps of underage girls. So there is some basis for the charges related sadly to underaged.

 

[Anna Bijou]

Well said.
In the US police are still taking out fake ads but on internet sites in coordinated operations that started years ago under the direction of Cook Cty ILL Sheriff. They have female cops pictures/ads and get guys to respond and being dumb say the wrong thing on the phone or texts. The excuse of course is human trafficking and underaged which very few are but that is the media excuse. Massage parlor busts are also common.

I read this last year and saved it, it's so wild.

The Truth About the Biggest U.S. Sex Trafficking Story of the Year

Part 1: 'This Is What Human Trafficking Looks Like' Part 2: How Washington Police Turned Talking About Prostitution into a…

reason.com