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The Latest Breaking News from Michael Lacey

How the Feds Destroyed Backpage.com and Its Founders

By prosecuting the website's founders, the government chilled free speech online and ruined lives.

Reason

Watch Now: Classified: The War on Backpage.com

Reason's new documentary is now streaming on the video platform CiVL. I hope you'll watch.

Reason

Reason's New Documentary on Backpage.com Is Streaming Exclusively on CiVL

The film ties together years of reporting on a legal saga with broad implications for both free speech and sex work.

Reason

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A History of Harris Positions on Sex Work

Harris' campaign hasn't said where she stands now. But she's historically taken a tough stance against prostitution and especially against men who pay for it.

Reason

Deplatforming Doesn't Make Sex Work Safer

Another study shows FOSTA failed.

Reason

Backpage's Michael Lacey Gets 5-Year Sentence

Plus: New York authorities set seized weed on fire, Pavel Durov charged by French authorities, and more...

Reason

Backpage.com founder Michael Lacey sentenced to 5 years in prison for money laundering

Backpage

The Independent UK

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Feds Seek 20-Year Sentence for Backpage Co-Founder Michael Lacey

It's an insane ask for someone convicted of just one nonviolent offense.

Reason

Judge Acquits Backpage Co-Founder Michael Lacey on Most Counts

The court found insufficient evidence to sustain 53 of 84 remaining counts against Lacey.

Reason

Casualty fans threaten to 'RIOT' over shock exit plan

Casualty viewers are up in arms over this character's fate was revealed last night

WhatToWatch

Feds Will Try Backpage Co-Founder Michael Lacey for a Third Time

It's a frightening reminder of how far the government will go to get their way—and to warn tech companies against platforming speech it doesn't like.

Reason

The Backpage Defendants Never Stood a Chance

Moral panic plus government power is an inescapably potent combination.

Reason

Backpage: The Monumental Free Speech Case the Media Ignored

The mere act of publishing sex ads online is enough to send most potential free speech allies scurrying for the exits.

Reason

Ex-owners of sex work site Backpage convicted of prostitution scheme

Michael Lacey, Scott Spear and John Brunst, all men in their 70s, created complicated system to try to outwit US government

The Guardian - US

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The Independent UK

Jurors hear opposite views of whether Backpage founder knew the site was running sex ads

Jurors at the criminal trial of a founder of the classified site Backpage

The Independent UK

Opening statements begin in website founder's 2nd trial over ads promoting prostitution

Federal prosecutors in Phoenix say a founder of the classified ad site Backpage

The Independent UK

Backpage founder faces trial over what prosecutors say was a scheme to sell ads for sex

A founder of Backpage faces second trial over what prosecutors say was a scheme to sell ads for sex

Reason

Google Isn't Intentionally Biased Against Republicans, Says Court

Plus: The real message behind DeSantis' abortion anecdote, midwives sue over Alabama regulations, and more…

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The Independent UK

Backpage founder faces 2nd trial over what prosecutors say was a scheme to sell ads for sex

A founder of Backpage

Reason

Why Kamala Harris Won't Be Asked About the Suicide of a Newspaperman She Persecuted

When it comes to conflicts with people engaged in unpopular or disfavored speech, too many journalists side with the feds.

The Independent UK

Co-founder’s suicide delays prostitution trial of Backpage executives

Previous trial of executives at now-closed website ended in mistrial

Reason

Backpage Founder, Alt-Weekly Entrepreneur, and Free Speech Warrior James Larkin Has Died

Larkin, 74, took his own life on Monday, just a little over a week before he was slated to stand trial for his role in running the web-classifieds platform Backpage.

Reason

Prosecutors Say Backpage Defendants Shouldn't Be Allowed To Reference the 1st Amendment

Prosecutors also want a judge to take basically all possible defenses off the table.

Reason

5 Years After the Backpage Shutdown, Sex Workers—and Free Speech—Are Still Suffering

As former Backpage execs await their August trial, the shutdown is still worsening the lives it was supposed to improve.

Reason

Retrial of Backpage Execs Wouldn't Be Double Jeopardy, Court Says

Former Backpage executives could now face trial again in 2023, after the government's first attempt resulted in a mistrial.

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