FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
July 24, 2013
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Claire Haynes (334) 242-7351
Page 1 of 1
AG STRANGE ADVOCATES CHANGE IN FEDERAL LAW
TO HELP FIGHT PROSTITUTION AND CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING
AGs call on Congress to amend Communications Decency Act
[MONTGOMERY]– Attorney General Luther Strange today joined a bi-partisan
national coalition of 49 Attorneys General calling on Congress to amend the law to help
fight prostitution and child sex trafficking. In a letter to key members of Congress, the
Attorneys General advocated that Congress amend the Communications Decency Act
to provide criminal jurisdiction to state and local prosecutors.
According to Attorney General Strange, the Communications Decency Act of
1996 was drafted when the internet was in its infancy. The original purpose of the Act
was to protect children from accessing indecent material online, but courts have
interpreted certain provisions of the Act to provide immunity from State prosecution to
online classified ad sites, such as Backpage.com, that promote and profit from human
trafficking.
Prostitution is a local crime. Absent interstate travel, federal property, or the
involvement of a minor, prostitution is not a federal crime. While the Communications
Decency Act provides criminal authority to the federal government, the Attorneys
General believe that criminal jurisdiction needs to be extended to help combat these
crimes.
“Federal law needs to be modernized to provide local prosecutors the tools to
strike back against those who use technology to promote sexual exploitation of
children,” Attorney General Strange said.
Local prosecutors report that prostitution solicitations have largely moved
online. Backpage.com, for example, generates an estimated $3 million to $4 million per
month in revenue.
The NAAG letter can be found here: http://www.ago.alabama.gov/File-
20130723-CDA-Sign-On-Letter
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501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
