The act of buying and selling sex seems to be a hot subject in the UK lately. Just yesterday, we covered a story about how a teacher in the UK lost her job over being an escort. And now here we are again today, with a new story about the world’s oldest profession.

During a hearing meant to be about AI deepfakes, Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi has called for the criminalization of purchasing sex, claiming the demand for sex fuels human trafficking and exploitation. Representing Gower, Antoniazzi emphasized the necessity of holding sex buyers accountable for their actions, which she described as inherently violent against women.

“Prostitution is violence against women. Men who pay for sex are not regular consumers harmlessly availing workers of their services,” Antoniazzi stated. “Offering somebody money, food, or a place to stay in return for them performing sex acts is sexual coercion. It is simply not possible to commodify sexual consent.”

In England and Wales, the act of buying and selling sex is not illegal, although many activities associated with prostitution, such as exploitation, are offenses. Antoniazzi described this legal framework as a “legal fudge” and called for a more consistent and objective approach.

Antoniazzi pointed out the inconsistencies in the current laws, where third-party facilitation of prostitution is illegal in some circumstances but permitted in others. She criticized the criminal sanctions imposed on victims of sexual exploitation for soliciting in public, while individuals who pay for sex face limited legal repercussions.

“In England and Wales, there is a loose patchwork of laws relating to prostitution with no consistent objective underpinning them. Victims of sexual exploitation face criminal sanction for soliciting in a public place, while individuals who pay for sex only face criminal sanctions if they curb crawl or pay for sex with an individual subjected to force, even then the law is very rarely enforced,” Antoniazzi added.

Antoniazzi urged the UK government to follow the lead of countries like Ireland, France, Sweden, Norway, and Canada, which have criminalized the purchase of sex while decriminalizing the victims of sexual exploitation. She argued that shifting the burden of criminality from victims to perpetrators is a crucial step in addressing the issue.

“We must end impunity for pimps and punters and provide support, not sanctions, for victims,” she stated.

Antoniazzi also called for a crackdown on websites that facilitate pimping, likening their operation to ordering a takeaway due to their ease of use in exploiting women. She highlighted the need for legislative updates to keep pace with technological changes that have allowed pimps to profit significantly.

“To stop sexual exploitation, we must end impunity for pimps and punters and provide support, not sanctions, for victims,” she asserted.

Victims Minister Jess Phillips responded to Antoniazzi’s remarks, expressing the government’s commitment to using every available measure to stop commercial sexual exploitation. Although Phillips did not provide specific policy commitments, she assured that changes in policy are forthcoming.

“I expect change in this space,” Phillips stated, emphasizing the government’s intention to address the issue comprehensively.

Antoniazzi’s call for action came during a debate on deepfakes legislation, where she expanded the discussion to include a broader critique of the adult entertainment industry. She described the industry as “characterized by lawlessness” and called for further criminalization of all sex work.

“Lawlessness characterizes the online pornography trade with films featuring child sexual abuse, rape, and trafficking victims found on some of the UK’s most heavily visited sites,” she told the House of Commons. “Illegal content is freely accessible on mainstream pornography websites.”

Antoniazzi’s arguments drew from a 2023 report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Commercial Sexual Exploitation (APPG-CSE), which has been criticized for its sweeping generalizations and alignment with anti-porn activists’ talking points. The report recommended extensive state crackdowns on sexual expression online.

Antoniazzi’s remarks have sparked debate, with critics highlighting her alignment with Sex Worker Exclusionary Radical Feminist (SWERF) views, which argue that adult women cannot consent to sex work and call for the complete criminalization of the industry.