Justice and Healing for Survivors Exploited on Backpage and CityXGuide

For years, online platforms like Backpage and CityXGuide were used to exploit and profit from the trafficking of countless individuals, many of them children. These sites enabled traffickers to advertise victims, putting vulnerable people in unimaginable danger and allowing abuse to thrive in plain sight.

In 2018, the U.S. Government shut down Backpage.com and passed the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA), holding websites accountable when they knowingly facilitate or profit from sex trafficking. It was an important step toward justice but for survivors who were trafficked and advertised on these sites, there had been no pathway to restitution.

That has now changed. The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a remission program to provide financial compensation to individuals who were trafficked and advertised on Backpage or CityXGuide. Survivors can learn more and apply directly at BackpageRemission.com.

Applying for remission is free, and survivors do not need an attorney to submit a petition. However, for those seeking support, the Backpage Survivor Remission Network (led by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) offers free, confidential legal assistance through a network of trained pro bono attorneys. This network exists to ensure that survivors can safely access compensation and begin to rebuild with trusted support.

At Canary, we believe every survivor deserves justice and the chance to heal. The launch of the Backpage remission process represents an important opportunity for acknowledgment, restitution, and hope. We are committed to doing our part by supporting this process behind the scenes - partnering with NCMEC and the pro bono attorney network to certify records and help confirm when victims were advertised on Backpage or CityXGuide.

For survivors whose cases span many years or multiple online platforms, these records can be crucial in demonstrating eligibility for remission. By ensuring that key information is accurately verified, Spotlight helps reduce barriers for applicants and strengthens the evidence needed to support their petitions.

If you or someone you know may be eligible, please visit BackpageRemission.com to learn more about the process, eligibility requirements, and available support resources.