Tech vs Sex: Is a digitised sex industry something to welcome or fear?
In the digital age, everything, and almost anything, is accessible in a minute. From Uber to Amazon Prime, these services are like our digital fairy godmothers commanding our every wish at the ‘click’ of a wand. This shift in consumerism is universal, even impacting the black market (and the grey areas around it). Prostitution is the oldest trade in history and despite the varying legality, it’s not been left behind with the technological revolution. Apps and other digital services are popping up everywhere, and with it brings debate around whether the application of tech in sex-for-sale is something we should embrace or be scared of.
Is it safer for those involved?
Firstly, the saucy ‘call-me’ cards in phone booths and windscreens are no more (mostly), and in its’ replacement is online services. These add a layer of protection to both the buyers and sellers as many apps require fully verified profiles meaning users are traceable. The organisation Ugly Mugs collects reports on people reported for sexual violence or transmitted diseases to safeguard users. And in case the initial screening isn’t enough, and an escort finds themself in a dangerous situation, the app has an alert button feature to further protect them. Peppett (2012) argues that if we stop playing cat and mouse between these escorting app developers and the authorities taking them down, then prostitution could be even safer.
And does that mean it’s a good thing for our communities?
Alongside apps making things safer for workers, there is a knock-on effect for the rest of society. Much like retails’ shift from bricks-and-mortar to eCommerce, street corners are becoming emptier and escorting apps are booming. The power of digital is taking sex workers off the streets and into the cloud. Pia Popenreiter, founder of Peppr stated this was the trigger for the creation of their sex-booking app, “ Walking down Oranienburger Strasse…it was chilly and I saw the poor girls on the streets, and I thought, why isn’t there an app?”. And for the general public, it put’s the taboo industry hidden away. Previously, the police had to deal with such complaints and move sex-workers along, but now technology has absorbed some of that burden from our public services.
But does that make the industry more accessible?
However, digitising such an industry makes it readily available to the masses. In the age of Twitter wars and trolling, we see how hiding behind a screen can elicit different behaviours from people. There’s a possibility that this digital layer could encourage someone not usually into such a trade as paid sex, to start using it. And reversely, it could encourage more young people to become suppliers of sex too. A recent study showed that 14.4% of sex workers had a post-graduate degree, showing that more people are actively choosing the profession instead of being forced into it. How big of a factor is technology in the surge of sex work?
Does it normalise misogynistic attitudes?
As this online market is rapidly growing, with it brings an array of unintended consequences. These digital services are taking away the human element of good ol’ love making and users of it are de-sensitised. Today, any consumer of any product can take to almost any digital platform to voice their opinions. And with the sex industry, where a real person is the commodity, people are rating other people like they’re TripAdvisor. Online platforms are hosting and somewhat promoting these attitudes and thus shining a light on the darkest parts of the industry.
And what’s the impact for data?
Another minefield for the industry is how to manage it’s big and sensitive data. Even some of the largest corporations have not figured out how to handle policies such as GDPR (e.g. BA’s latest data breach costing them £183 million). With 72,000 sex workers in the UK alone, averaging 25 clients per week, that’s 93.6 million transactions a year stored and tracked, all existing somewhere! Researchers, Wardel & Moore found that often these apps are poorly encrypted and vulnerable to data hacks. In fact they themselves were able to capture rich personal data of over 15,000 users of the app Grindr. The implications for such a data spill could be catastrophic.
In summary, today we are living in a world of instant gratification, hyperconnectivty and always-on culture. And naturally the sex industry has moved in the same direction as any other. Undoubtedly, technology brings an overwhelming amount of benefits to users and workers alike, but the shift brings a wider array of problems that we can’t predict or necessarily handle. One thing for certain is that the worlds oldest profession is not shutting up shop any time soon. The industry may fluctuate but it will always prevail, so we need to accept its’ inevitability and deal with its’ risks. Regulating sex work like any other market will not only ensure the correct uses of technology but also has the potential to benefit society as a whole.
If you find this topic as interesting as I do and would like to talk through it, leave a comment below or get in touch. Or if you’d like to read any of my other pieces, check out my full blog here.
