The new anti-sex-trafficking legislation passed by congress makes websites legally responsible for any 3rd party postings related to sex trafficking including prostitution or sexual favors for personal gain. That has already shut down the Craigslist personals and Reddit. Obviously we know there are a number of scammers and those selling cam shows on here. I suspect some offering intimate encounters are looking for personal gain along with that encounter.

Are we going to see a significant change or elimination of US based dating sites?

Of the few dating websites I attend, I don't see it as a change.
Perhaps the adult sites will be affected but I don't really go to them.

It may decrease the amount of scammers but only if they originate in the USA. I think its a step in the right direction.

Most of the dating sites I go to are world-wide. I don't know if M2 is even based in the US.
I think M2's 'terms of service' protects it. It doesn't promote the sex industry, isn't set up for sex trafficking. It does actively police itself.


I think there will be a lot of websites revising their privacy policy.
Right now the law is looking at sex traffic. It could get distorted and start looking at copyright infringement. Then you might see the death of forums and comment streams.


That may change...


This new law changes that.
It holds them responsible for allowing such links to appear on their sites.

So the best way to stay within the law is to not allow links to 3rd party websites. This is not a problem for the baseline of M2 profiles. Where it becomes a problem is in the Community Forums where hyperlinking is done using BBCode markup.

I foresee the elimination of some bbcodes like url and img. Or...they may just get rid of the forums entirely.

From M2's Terms of Service

This law changes this too.
This law says they ARE RESPONSIBLE for 3rd party content they allow on their site.
Right now it has to do with sex traffic but eventually it may have to do with any content.
This means the picture you post of a box of Wheaties, that is copyrighted, will be a violation, if they allow you to post it on their website.
The only way to protect themselves is to not allow any 3rd party content on their site.

Those get banned here now. The problem is people going off site and then gets scammed there. Here all you have to do is report them. It is impossible to prevent them from going to a site. It is what the site does about it.

That was true up until FOSTA became law.
NOW, it is against the law for the site to even 'allow links' to sex trafficking sites. It makes M2 responsible for the content they allow to be on their sites. It makes them responsible for the content allowed to show in ads they allow on their sites.
H.R.1865 - Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017.

So basically, if there is an ad on the site, that someone could click that directs them to a sex trafficking site, they are in violation of FOSTA.
If someone posts a hyperlink to one of those sites, they are again in violation of FOSTA for allowing that hyperlink to appear on their site.
Even if it is only a url address it is a violation because allowing it facilitates the trafficker.

In the past, it was up to the member to make the decision to click or not.
It was up to the member to report violations of policy to help police the site.
Now, it is the responsibility of the site to assure compliance.

That law is long over due. Many people are online and honest people need protection. Imo

US based dating sites? Probably not.

Depends on how the government chooses to enforce the law and how much fear they can engender in website owners.
Fear in either prosecution, or the fear of the price of litigation.

Yeah, the dating sites themselves, in and of themselves is not the issue.
The issue is the ads and links to sex trafficking sites which seem to haunt dating sites.

I think it will make website owners look hard at the ads they allow to be on their sites. Now that they are responsible for them.
No more allowing a marketer to place just any ad on their site.
It will certainly cut down the available marketing ad base for click revenue.
I think that will be the major issue. Loss of revenue due to a restricted ad base.
I mean, sex sells. Its pretty effective at it too.
Try to imagine a dating site that has no sexual implicit ads.
Can't do it can you?
Imagine M2 revenue without the aid of sexual advertising?
That ad revenue is what keeps sites like M2 operating.
Lose it and they are forced to rely on other ads and member subscriptions to justify the cost, which makes it free.
Paid member dating sites will not be affected at the same degree.

Paid member dating sites are not that bad. It where I met very good men from in person. Relationship sites tend to match up more couples who want real. Dates.

I wonder if one would have to prove that it was done for monetary gain

versus sexual gratification..I mean there could always be the great

unsaid..I wonder if they like said the sex was free..but tipping is allowed..Now while within the realm of "sexual favors" those in the know would know that the sex really isn't free and that the tipping is actually payment ..but there is that which can be proven and that which is never said can't be..one could assume ..but assumptions aren't proof..In other words could it come down to wording..Not that I care but we all know that loop holes could possibly exist..just saying..again not that I care..I'm too much of an STDaphobe (yes I know) to go that route....

Backpage is now gone and some people are rejoicing. We need to remember the law of unintended consequences. Those sex ads and personals are going to go someplace where they are not regulated. The money is there to be made and someone will make it!!

Makes me think of prostitution.
Technically, you could ask a prostitute if she can sell you a condom.
Then ask her if it comes with a free demonstration.

Technically, you're not paying for sex, you're paying for a condom (get a reciept: Condom: $80, PAID IN FULL).
As far as I know condom pricing is not regulated, condoms are not illegal and purchasing/selling them is not considered solicitation.