FOSTA-SESTA — Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act
Created the first major exception to Section 230 immunity for platforms that knowingly facilitate sex trafficking. Allows civil suits and state criminal charges against platforms for trafficking content. Signed April 2018. Critics argue it made sex workers less safe by pushing activity underground.
Related Incidents
Same harm domain — actors and location may differ
14-year-old girl groomed via social media by Sydney private school teacher leading to child abuse material charges
12-year-old girl sexually groomed via TikTok leading to out-of-state assault in Binghamton, New York
9-year-old girl dies after attempting blackout challenge on YouTube
13-year-old Louisiana girl exposed to AI-generated nude deepfake images leading to expulsion and federal lawsuit against school district
12-year-old girl groomed and coerced into self-harm and producing child sexual abuse materials via social media in New Jersey
Related Legislation
Other policies covering the same harm domain
Linked Litigation
1Legal cases linked to this policy