High technologies used by sex industry end Eliot Spitzer’s career

Prostitution may be the world’s most ancient profession, but its representatives try to keep up with time and use all achievements of the 21^st century. The recent scandal with New York Governor Eliot Spitzer revealed many modern-day technical peculiarities, which ladies of the night use in their work. They include text messages to clock in the client, electronic fund transfers, websites with photos, prices and rankings.

Photo: High technologies used by sex industry end Eliot Spitzer’s career

High technologies used by sex industry end Eliot Spitzer’s career

“There’s always been a distinction between indoor and street-level prostitution, and advances in technology have increasingly separated the two”, said Ronald Weitzer, author of "Sex for Sale: Prostitution, Pornography and the Sex Industry."

Modern firms offering escort services now run more efficient businesses. They have more opportunities for advertising to troll for clients.

"It's commercial, but it's also social, so people do really form relationships," says Audacia Ray, author of "Naked on the Internet: Hookups, Downloads, and Cashing in on Internet Sexploration".

"Clients become buddies," she recapitulated.

There are lots of online message boards where clients or potential clients can discuss, rate and exchange information about individual women.

A recent rating of one woman on an escort-review site reads: "She is the real deal. She's bright, with flawless body, she really loves what she does."

“Technology also eases the business-end of things”, Weitzer says. “While clients are surveying potential companions, escort-service managers can look into clients with a background check or even a simple web search. Payment is easier, too”.

"It's often convenient for clients and sex workers to have an account established with a balance," says Norma Jean Almodovar, CEO of the sex workers' rights organization COYOTE ("Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics") in Southern California.

However, high technologies are a double edged sword. Emperors Club VIP, the high-end prostitution organization, which ill-fated Spitzer was allegedly involved with, was brought down when appropriate services noticed frequent cash transfers from several suspicious accounts.

Spitzer turned out to be a victim of high technologies. So did Emperors Club VIP that is likely to be shut down after the scandal.

Translated by Julia Bulygina
Pravda.ru