8 ms·

One wonders...what is the legality of running a "service provider" from the US but incorporated in Canada for something like this? Like, say, a scheduling/rese

One wonders...what is the legality of running a "service provider" from the US but incorporated in Canada for something like this? Like, say, a scheduling/reservation app for this?

jmccree 13y ago
Next big idea: Uber for sex.
- angersock 13y ago
  I'm pretty sure the Vooza guys already joked about this. EDIT: Finally, a use for all those questionably-named Rails gems!
- saraid216 13y ago
  Grindr?
  - venomsnake 13y ago
    Wasn't that gay only?
    - gaius 13y ago
      Tindr is the straight one.
dobbsbob 13y ago
US will extradite the owners. Better be anonymous
kfcm 13y ago
IANAL. But stop and think. If "the activity" or "act" takes place in the US, it would still be illegal. If you have a pimping/pandering company based in Canada, offering services in the US, those on the US side could possibly face even higher charges of international human trafficking. (cf, the Mann Act: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_Act ) The US can arrest its citizens for their behavior in foreign countries where their behavior violates US law, whether said activities are legal or illegal in said foreign countries. One could say US law follows the citizen. (cf, UNITED STATES v. PASSARO [extension of jurisdiction over US Gov. contractors], US PROTECT ACT [anti-child exploitation], etc) The US can also deny visas to foreign nationals based upon what US law considers "moral turpitude", even though such may be legal in their home country. Relevant to this story, the US could deny a high visibility prostitute into the US, because most US states (and federal law, see MANN ACT) prohibit prostitution. (cf, INA 212(a)(2)(d): http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-29/0-0-0-2006.html http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/ilink/docView/SLB/H... ) This would not be a great idea.
- GrinningFool 13y ago
  I also ANAL. Hm. That came out wrong. Anyway... "The US can arrest its citizens for their behavior in foreign countries where their behavior violates US law" I believe that this is specific to federal law, and not state - and to my knowledge, state laws are the ones that specifically make prostitution illegal. There are federal laws that say I can't try to bring someone across the border for the purpose of prostitution in the US[1], but I think that's that extent of it. [1] http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/8/12/II/II/1182 http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/8/12/II/II/1182
  - kfcm 13y ago
    The Feds do outlaw it across state and national borders. 18 USC 2421+ (MANN ACT): Whoever knowingly transports any individual in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, with intent that such individual engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both. Sec. 2422. Coercion and enticement (a) Whoever knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, to engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. (b) Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life.
    - GrinningFool 13y ago
      2422 a) specifically seems to refer to persuading (et al) an individual to travel to perform such an activity. Or am I misreading? 2422 b) looks promising as it's pretty clearly saying you can't pimp someone out - but it only applies when the individual being induced/etc hasn't attained 18 years of age.
pervycreeper 13y ago
Haha, it would be quite a coup for tech to disrupt the "world's oldest" industry. I imagine that doing something across jurisdictions could actually make things worse (I'm speaking as a non-lawyer and general ignoramus here). Maybe if you maintained plausible deniability at all times. Might be worth consulting a lawyer considering the size of the industry ($$$). OTH, there are other potential sources of liability than legal (going up against organized crime might prove more difficult, than say taxicab unions, for instance).
- angersock 13y ago
  I mean, I think the way to do this would be to pitch it the Canadian equivalent of the Health and Human Services department--they host the app backend, and offer scheduling and reservations, and send health checkup reminders. In return, they get to monitor the profession and help encourage safe sex. Seems like a win for everyone.
pain_perdu 13y ago
came here hoping for a comment like this...was not disappointed.

One wonders...what is the legality of running a "service provider" from the US but incorporated in Canada for something like this? Like, say, a scheduling/reservation app for this?

jmccree 13y ago

Next big idea: Uber for sex.

angersock 13y ago
I'm pretty sure the Vooza guys already joked about this. EDIT: Finally, a use for all those questionably-named Rails gems!
saraid216 13y ago
Grindr?
- venomsnake 13y ago
  Wasn't that gay only?
  - gaius 13y ago
    Tindr is the straight one.

dobbsbob 13y ago

US will extradite the owners. Better be anonymous

kfcm 13y ago

IANAL. But stop and think. If "the activity" or "act" takes place in the US, it would still be illegal. If you have a pimping/pandering company based in Canada, offering services in the US, those on the US side could possibly face even higher charges of international human trafficking. (cf, the Mann Act: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_Act ) The US can arrest its citizens for their behavior in foreign countries where their behavior violates US law, whether said activities are legal or illegal in said foreign countries. One could say US law follows the citizen. (cf, UNITED STATES v. PASSARO [extension of jurisdiction over US Gov. contractors], US PROTECT ACT [anti-child exploitation], etc) The US can also deny visas to foreign nationals based upon what US law considers "moral turpitude", even though such may be legal in their home country. Relevant to this story, the US could deny a high visibility prostitute into the US, because most US states (and federal law, see MANN ACT) prohibit prostitution. (cf, INA 212(a)(2)(d): http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-29/0-0-0-2006.html http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/ilink/docView/SLB/H... ) This would not be a great idea.

GrinningFool 13y ago
I also ANAL. Hm. That came out wrong. Anyway... "The US can arrest its citizens for their behavior in foreign countries where their behavior violates US law" I believe that this is specific to federal law, and not state - and to my knowledge, state laws are the ones that specifically make prostitution illegal. There are federal laws that say I can't try to bring someone across the border for the purpose of prostitution in the US[1], but I think that's that extent of it. [1] http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/8/12/II/II/1182 http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/8/12/II/II/1182
- kfcm 13y ago
  The Feds do outlaw it across state and national borders. 18 USC 2421+ (MANN ACT): Whoever knowingly transports any individual in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, with intent that such individual engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both. Sec. 2422. Coercion and enticement (a) Whoever knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, to engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. (b) Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life.
  - GrinningFool 13y ago
    2422 a) specifically seems to refer to persuading (et al) an individual to travel to perform such an activity. Or am I misreading? 2422 b) looks promising as it's pretty clearly saying you can't pimp someone out - but it only applies when the individual being induced/etc hasn't attained 18 years of age.

pervycreeper 13y ago

Haha, it would be quite a coup for tech to disrupt the "world's oldest" industry. I imagine that doing something across jurisdictions could actually make things worse (I'm speaking as a non-lawyer and general ignoramus here). Maybe if you maintained plausible deniability at all times. Might be worth consulting a lawyer considering the size of the industry ($$$). OTH, there are other potential sources of liability than legal (going up against organized crime might prove more difficult, than say taxicab unions, for instance).

angersock 13y ago
I mean, I think the way to do this would be to pitch it the Canadian equivalent of the Health and Human Services department--they host the app backend, and offer scheduling and reservations, and send health checkup reminders. In return, they get to monitor the profession and help encourage safe sex. Seems like a win for everyone.

pain_perdu 13y ago

came here hoping for a comment like this...was not disappointed.