h"ps://doi.org/10.25392/leicester.data.23553243 1 Summary • The landscape where modern slavery and sexual exploitation takes place has changed with the onset of digital technologies dominating the organisation of the commercial sex industry. • Adult Service Websites (ASWs), where most sexual services are advertised, negotiated and facilitated in the UK, is a relatively new space where exploiters can manipulate, entrap, coerce and force individuals into selling sexual services. • The role of ASWs in facilitating offending behaviour is complicated and unregulated as national intelligence services try to understand routes to trafficking, the police work to identify victims and target offenders, and first responders deliver interventions to victims of sexual exploitation. • Researchers from the University of Leicester, (in partnership with the National Crime Agency, National Police Chief's Council, and the NGO Unseen) investigated what role ASWs can play in preventing human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the UK, and their role in wider policies and laws. Key messages • The ASWs interviewed offer best practice guidance on ASW platform safety and supporting survivors of modern slavery and identifying potential cases of exploitation on their platforms. • ASW current responsibilities include multi-layered ID verification and reporting tools, safety centres and partnerships with the police, proactive removal and human/AI moderation of content. o However, these measures are not universal among all ASW platforms and there is a distinct lack of safeguarding practices across the majority of the platforms. • ASWs evaluated forthcoming legislation exploring the Online Safety Bill and how it will seek to regulate ASWs including foreseeing potential disadvantages of greater regulation (such as the displacement of victims, stigma towards consensual sex work, enforcement issues and data privacy. Introduction This study explored the ways Adult Service Websites (ASWs) have facilitated and responded to modern slavery human trafficking (MSHT) and sexual exploitation online. The findings demonstrate the varied ways the internet is a tool for exploiters. Technology, then, is essential to disrupting sex trafficking online (Kjellgren, 2022). The multi-methods study comprised of semi-structured qualitative interviews with police (n=30) across 23 forces in England & Wales, practitioners (n=13) and ASW operators (n=5) and a survey with sex buyers (n=142). Central to the research process was a participatory action research approach with survivors of modern slavery, in partnership with Unseen. This briefing shares the findings from 5 qualitative interviews with Adult Service Websites who facilitate the advertisement and purchase of sexual services in the UK. Due to the scrutiny of ASWs and online platforms and the encroaching neo-abolitionism in society (Scoular and Carline, 2014) recruitment of ASWs was difficult. Those who participated represent good practice in the field and believe they have a responsibility in this area. The research explored the current role and responsibilities of ASWs, including working alongside police in MSHT cases. ASW providers explored the ways the UK Online Safety Bill will regulate their platforms, evaluating potential advantages and disadvantages of greater regulation of the commercial sex industry. Prevention of Modern Slavery within Sex Work: the role of Adult Services Websites ASW briefing Professor Teela Sanders and Dr Rachel Keighley Key regulatory recommendations 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 More stringent verification measures such as ID, financial data, and consent verification. Proactive use of algorithms and human moderation of content. Increased responsibilities of customers to report MSHT or potentially exploitative activities. Stricter and dynamic safety regulations including dedicated support pages and partnerships with NGOs. Payment regulations including disabling unidentified payments and verifying payment method