Closed without warning: material marginalization of people in the sex trades

The exclusion of sex workers from financial services raises critical concerns about justice, autonomy, and economic rights. Sex workers report increased vulnerability and violence due to difficulties accessing banking and financial technologies. This article examines how algorithms used by financial institutions de-platform individuals engaged in sex work under the pretense of risk management, regardless of the legal status of their labour. Using mixed-methods analysis, this study demonstrates that financial discrimination experienced by sex workers leads to housing instability, food insecurity, and broader health and safety challenges. This study employs community-led participatory action research to gather data from individuals involved in the sex trades, documenting their experiences of financial discrimination and the resulting impacts on their lives (32% of respondents have been banned from a bank account, payment app, or payment processor, and 23% reported having funds seized), and financial discrimination increased the longer respondents engaged in sex work.