Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Deferred
Paragraph: 100
Utilise existing legislation to investigate and hold accountable websites facilitating sexual exploitation trafficking.
Conclusion
Until new legislation is introduced prohibiting profiting from or enabling the prostitution of another person, law enforcement should utilise all available legislation to investigate and hold accountable websites that facilitate trafficking for sexual exploitation. This includes legislation prohibiting companies from benefiting from the proceeds of crime and preventative measures such as Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government shares concerns but describes its ongoing work to address forced labour in global supply chains through Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, completely deflecting from the recommendation about law enforcement utilising existing legislation against websites facilitating sexual exploitation.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
100
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
6. The Government regularly reviews its policy to combat sexual exploitation, working closely with law enforcement partners to tackle the drivers that facilitate sexual exploitation through a range of activity. This includes a commitment in the Violence Against Woman and Girls Strategy to work with adult service websites to counter exploitation on their sites. As part of this, we have developed the voluntary principles to counter sexual exploitation on adult service websites. The principles will encourage adult service websites to take reasonable and practical steps to prevent modern slavery and exploitation on their platforms, strengthen their moderation procedures, proactively identify suspicious activity and work collaboratively with law enforcement. 7. The Government engages with a wide variety of organisations when developing robust policy to achieve the best results for the vulnerable individuals the policies are seeking to protect. Law enforcement partners have shared in their evidence that adult service websites have provided credible and actionable intelligence to the police, which has enabled them to find and prosecute criminals. 37. Ofcom is operationally independent of Government. As set out in the Online Safety Act 2023, Ofcom has a tough suite of enforcement powers to use against companies who fail to fulfil their duties. This includes fines of up to £18 mill
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