Harman Attacks Punternet

At the labour party Annual Conference last week, Deputy Leader, Harriet Harman once again sailed into the sex work/prostitution debate. She cited one specific website - Punternet - and called for it to be closed down. Harman commented: "There is now a website… where pimps put women on sale for sex and then men who've had sex with them put their comments online. It is PunterNet and fuels the demand for prostitutes." Punternet has been written about rather brilliantly by Keith Sharp and Sarah Earle and I've previously commented upon it last year in an article. I'll post the references at the end. The site allows for 'reviews' of sex work. As the site is based in California, Harman is calling on the site to be closed down. Harman states: "I've raised it with the US ambassador to London and I've called on California's governor, Arnie Schwarzenegger, to close it down." Poor Arnie, California's economy is going to hell in a hand basket and then Harman rings you up. The cyber-community exploded with comments and I can't beat this analysis provided by a sex worker (thanks to Stephen on the CSWRPUK list). it's well worth a read.

Punternet have responded to Harman in an open letter which can be viewed here along with this press release. They conclude by stating: 'In closing, I would like to thank you for the huge influx of traffic to my website which your actions have caused. I am sure that the ladies who are a part of the PunterNet community thank you as well, as they will no doubt benefit financially from the many new clients who might otherwise never have found them.'

Harman's full speech can be read here. Alternatively, you can watch it in full below. Those references I promised are:

Sharp, K and Earle, S (2003) 'Cyberpunters and Cyberwhores: Prostitution on the Internet', in Kewkes, Y, Dot.cons (Cullompton: Willan Publishing).

Ashford, C (2008) 'Sex Work in Cyberspace: Who Pays the Price?' 17(1) Information and Communications Technology Law, 3.

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