Adult Services: UK Watchdog Calls for Overhaul to Prevent Exploitation

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The UK anti-slavery watchdog has urged urgent reform of adult sexual services websites to prevent exploitation. These sites, widely used for advertising sexual services, can unintentionally accelerate risks for sex workers, the report found. Eleanor Lyons, the independent anti-slavery commissioner, led the investigation, focusing on women who reported coercion and abuse while engaging online. Her research analysed data from twelve platforms, interviewed twelve survivors, and revealed gaps in legislation covering webcam work and offline encounters arranged through these sites. The study highlights that while online work can offer protections, many women remain vulnerable to manipulation and trafficking in this digital environment.

Titled Behind the Profile: Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Through Adult Services Websites, the report was released on Thursday and reveals weak safeguarding across platforms. Lyons called for stronger oversight and an updated legal framework to protect women from harm. The research also underlines the need for increased support for survivors navigating this complex sector. She emphasised that the old methods of advertising sexual services through phone box cards have been replaced by a pervasive digital network operating in public view. The commissioner explained that modern sites require contemporary regulation to match their scale and sophistication.

The study employed a specialised tool known as the sexual trafficking identification matrix to analyse twelve websites, finding 63,000 active listings over several days. These platforms collectively attracted over 41 million visits in January alone. Of the listings assessed, 59% displayed three or more indicators of exploitation, while 39% showed four or more warning signs. These indicators included repeated phone numbers across ads, references to substance use, broad menu-based service listings, claims of young age, and phrases like “new to the area.” The findings demonstrate widespread signs of risk across the adult services industry, with London emerging as a particularly concentrated hotspot according to the research heatmap.

The report contextualises these findings within rising rates of sexual exploitation in the UK. Data from the national referral mechanism for suspected victims of trafficking shows an 86% increase in women’s referrals between 2020 and 2025, rising from 1,114 to 2,076 annually. For girls, referrals increased 61%, from 504 to 811. Lyons highlighted that these numbers only partially capture the extent of exploitation, as many cases remain unreported or undetected. Some individuals profiled on adult services websites have been trafficked entirely, with pimps or criminal networks controlling their profiles, bookings, and income. In contrast, others initially consent to online work but gradually encounter coercion and abuse, blurring the line between voluntary engagement and exploitation.

The report also explores the marketing strategies of certain websites, such as offering free premium accounts to students with academic email addresses ending in .edu. This approach, described as a form of “gentrification of sexual exploitation,” targets financially vulnerable young people, presenting adult work as a solution to student debt. Survivors interviewed shared harrowing experiences of coercion and psychological manipulation. One described how webcam exploitation desensitised her, creating pathways toward further trafficking. Another recalled how buyers compared her to others online, pressuring her into acts that posed severe physical risks, including suffocation and spinal injury. She recounted multiple instances where she feared for her life while performing online.

Lyons’ investigation also highlighted the challenges survivors face in accessing support. Women reported difficulty navigating services designed to assist them, with peer support groups often providing the most effective aid. Feelings of shame and fear of judgment were commonly cited barriers to seeking help. One survivor described violent abuse from a man she worked with online, recounting: “I remember one night he was beating me up on camera … I didn’t scream because I didn’t want to wake my children up.” Such testimonies illustrate the invisible dangers lurking behind the apparent autonomy provided by adult services websites.

The report concludes that these platforms facilitate gradual entrapment, eroding personal boundaries and masking coercion under the guise of choice. Lyons stressed that confronting this issue requires simultaneous reform of regulatory frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and support networks. Without coordinated updates, the risk of online exploitation is likely to persist and expand. The commissioner urged that legislation, website monitoring, and survivor assistance must evolve together to match the speed and complexity of digital sexual services platforms.

Experts in the sector have emphasised the importance of proactive regulation. Digital platforms have transformed the landscape of sexual work, providing opportunities but also significant dangers. Industry critics argue that without a unified legal and technological approach, online exploitation will remain difficult to identify and prevent. The report recommends measures such as mandatory verification processes, transparent reporting mechanisms, and enhanced training for law enforcement. It also calls for specialised support services tailored to the nuanced needs of those affected by online sexual exploitation.

International comparisons highlight similar challenges, with countries including the United States and Canada exploring frameworks to safeguard sex workers online. These strategies often combine technology with social services and legal oversight to mitigate exploitation. Lyons’ findings indicate that the UK must follow suit to address growing concerns about adult services sites. The report provides a roadmap for government, platform operators, and support organisations to reduce risk while respecting autonomy for those who choose online work.

Lyons underscored that addressing adult services exploitation is not solely a law enforcement issue. Public awareness, industry accountability, and survivor-centred services are essential. She advocated for digital literacy campaigns and collaboration with technology experts to detect coercion early. The research also points to the potential for innovative tools that monitor for exploitation patterns without compromising user privacy. Stakeholders are encouraged to consider multi-layered approaches that integrate regulation, enforcement, and survivor support to achieve meaningful change.

Overall, Behind the Profile portrays a complex digital environment where opportunities intersect with profound risks. Adult services websites, while offering some protections, also expose women to coercion, trafficking, and psychological harm. The report’s findings emphasise urgent reforms, stronger safeguarding, and survivor support networks. Lyons’ work aims to inform policymakers, platform operators, and the public, ensuring that exploitation does not continue unchecked in an evolving online sector. By modernising oversight and resources, the UK can better protect those vulnerable to sexual exploitation while maintaining pathways for safe, consensual online work.

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