The Internet and sex industries: partners in global sexual exploitation

The author argues that the expansion of the global sex industry, especially on the Internet, has intensified the harm to the victims, and normalized and globalized the victimization and exploitation. Two components of globalization, rapid development and deployment of information technology and the industrialized commodification of women and children have become linked to expand and truly internationalize sexual exploitation. The lack of regulation of the Internet and prevailing uncritical views on the sex industry are contributing to the escalation of the global sexual exploitation of women and children through global advertising of prostitution tours and online marketing. The United States is the founder and leader of both of these industries, but their impact is felt profoundly all over the world, especially by women and children.