Ep. 202: The backpage.com saga

We’re joined today by Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Robert Corn-Revere,
and Ronnie London to discuss the history and verdict of the
Backpage trial. 


Backpage.com was an online classified advertising service founded
in 2004. As a chief competitor to Craigslist, Backpage allowed
users to post ads to categories such as personals, automotive,
rentals, jobs and — most notably — adult services. In 2018, the
website domain was seized by the FBI and its executives were
prosecuted under federal prostitution and money laundering
statutes. The trial concluded this year, resulting in the
acquittal and convictions of several key executives. 


Some First Amendment advocates are concerned that the Backpage
case represents a “slippery slope” for the prosecution of
protected speech and the rights of websites that host
user-generated content.


Elizabeth Nolan Brown is a senior editor at Reason Magazine,
where she has written about the Backpage case in detail. 


Robert Corn-Revere is FIRE’s chief counsel and a frequent guest
of the show. Prior to joining FIRE, he represented Backpage in
private practice.


Ronnie London is FIRE’s general counsel and another frequent
guest of the show. He also represented Backpage when he was in
private practice prior to joining FIRE.


Timestamps


00:00 Introduction 


06:55 The origins of Backpage 


10:40 The significance of classified ads 


14:52 Are escort ads protected? 


19:07 Federal memos indicating Backpage fought child sex
trafficking


23:19 Backpage content moderation


34:44 Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act


42:59 “De-banking” and NRA v. Vullo


52:24 The verdict 


1:00:34 Could these convictions be overturned? 


1:02:49 Outro


Show notes 


Backpage.com url


2018 Backpage indictment


Elizabeth Nolan Brown’s 2018 Backpage profile


Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act


NRA v. Vullo


The Travel Act