Backpage.com ‘Online Brothel’ Pimping Charges May Be Tossed
- Caliornia judge tentatively rules free speech protects CEO
- Final ruling on dismissing charges to be issued by Dec. 9
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Free-speech laws would protect the operators of a website advertising escort services from being prosecuted on pimping conspiracy charges under a ruling that a California judge may make final within weeks.
Backpage.com was called “the world’s top online brothel” by California Attorney General Kamala Harris in October when she filed the charges against the company’s chief executive officer, Carl Ferrer. Wednesday in Sacramento, a state court judge tentatively ruled that Ferrer and two co-defendants are protected by the Communications Decency Act, a 1996 federal law that insulates internet platforms from content posted by third parties.