The Not-So-Risky Business of High-End Escorts and the Internet in the 21st Century

Robert R. Rigg, Drake University Law School

Abstract

The advent of the Internet has changed the advertising and marketing of prostitution. This advertising and marketing has expanded greatly since the days of advertisements in newspaper classifieds, as seen in the movie, Risky Business. Today, Internet websites allow escorts much greater exposure.

This Article focuses on “high-end” escorts—escorts charging more than $500 per act or session. These service providers use the Internet in ways different than their low-end or mid-range counterparts. These high-end escorts have sophisticated websites, geared toward discretion—for both the provider and client.

Criminal law has begun focusing on escorts who use the Internet for advertising and the websites that provide them a forum. Prosecution can be difficult, though. This Article addresses online prostitution and suggests enforcement measures for the current state of the law in regards to the use of the Internet by escorts.