Characterising the structure of the largest online commercial sex network in the UK: observational study with implications for STI prevention

Giommoni, Luca; Berlusconi, Giulia; Melendez‐Torres, G. J.

doi:10.1080/13691058.2020.1788725

Cited by 4 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…A negative correlation was observed in the degrees between FCSWs and MCs, as in previous studies [ 11 , 16 ] ( Fig 4A and 4B ). Popular FCSWs tend to be associated with many low-frequency MCs, and regular MCs tend to connect with less popular FCSWs.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Exploring sexual contact networks by analyzing a nationwide commercial-sex review website

Ito

Shigeta²,

Yamamoto³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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Understanding the structure of human sexual contact networks is vital in a broad range of disciplines, including sociology, biology, public health, and anthropology. However, sexual contact networks are yet to be understood because technical and privacy issues make it difficult to conduct accurate, large-scale surveys. In this study, we surveyed data openly available on one of the largest adult entertainment websites in Japan, where male clients (MCs) can write online customer reviews of female commercial sex workers (FCSWs). In particular, our investigation focused on a type of establishment called “soapland,” the only type of sex industry in Japan where sexual intercourse is publicly permitted. Soaplands are scattered throughout Japan, and the study website covers approximately 66% of them. Using such a vast amount of data on a nationwide scale, we clarified the network structure of commercial sex, characterized by small-world, scale-free, and disassortative mating properties. To study geographical characteristics, we compared the resulting network with three different artificially generated networks via the random rewiring of links. Moreover, we considered a simple epidemic model on the resulting network, and investigated whether it would be more effective to provide infection control measures to FCSWs or MCs. We determined that active FCSWs constitute an important pathway of infection propagation in commercial sex networks, but MCs also play an essential role as weak ties.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Exploring sexual contact networks by analyzing a nationwide commercial-sex review website

Ito

Shigeta²,

Yamamoto³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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show abstract

“…Therefore, the proposed network disruption strategies are analogous to a large body of work that has successfully undertaken a similar approach in other areas (Giommoni et al. 2021 ; Musciotto and Miccichè 2022 ; Hsieh et al. 2014 ).…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Thus, these parameters have played a key role in creating network disruption strategies to dismantle/disrupt criminal networks (Giommoni et al. 2021 ) or curb transmission of infectious diseases.…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Disrupting drive-by download networks on Twitter

Javed

Ikwu

Burnap

et al. 2022

Soc. Netw. Anal. Min.

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This paper tests disruption strategies in Twitter networks containing malicious URLs used in drive-by download attacks. Cybercriminals use popular events that attract a large number of Twitter users to infect and propagate malware by using trending hashtags and creating misleading tweets to lure users to malicious webpages. Due to Twitter’s 280 character restriction and automatic shortening of URLs, it is particularly susceptible to the propagation of malware involved in drive-by download attacks. Considering the number of online users and the network formed by retweeting a tweet, a cybercriminal can infect millions of users in a short period. Policymakers and researchers have struggled to develop an efficient network disruption strategy to stop malware propagation effectively. We define an efficient strategy as one that considers network topology and dependency on network resilience, where resilience is the ability of the network to continue to disseminate information even when users are removed from it. One of the challenges faced while curbing malware propagation on online social platforms is understanding the cybercriminal network spreading the malware. Combining computational modelling and social network analysis, we identify the most effective strategy for disrupting networks of malicious URLs. Our results emphasise the importance of specific network disruption parameters such as network and emotion features, which have proved to be more effective in disrupting malicious networks compared to random strategies. In conclusion, disruption strategies force cybercriminal networks to become more vulnerable by strategically removing malicious users, which causes successful network disruption to become a long-term effort.

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“…To begin with, much of CSWs nowadays is negotiated with clients and they are facilitated through online spaces. These are known as off-street sex workers (Reynolds, 2021;Giommoni et al, 2021;Vlase and Preoteasa, 2021;Mergenthaler and Yasseri, 2021;Wang et al, 2022;Almond and Mallette, 2022). In addition, adult entertainment platforms have become very convenient to both the sex sellers and their clientele in a number of countries, including Uganda (Hill and Lee, 2021).…”

Section: The Connection Between the New Technological Dynamics And Cswmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards deconstructing urban tourism within the framework of commercial sex work in Uganda

Mwesigwa¹,

Oboi²

2022

J. Hosp. Manage. Tourism

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There is great anxiety that present day urban authorities are not considering the amount of heterosexual activities that are neither among legitimately married couples nor casually relating friends. This anxiety has brought much pressure onto the civil society that aims to promote morality in society in addition to the religious bodies that aim to encourage positive morals among their congregates. Yet, the extent to which commercial sex work is capable of increasing the level of urban tourism in the 21st century is fascinating. Bearing in mind the different challenges and the proof of dearth of statistics on commercial sex work in Uganda, the emphasis of this paper is on how urban authorities can exploit the growing industry of commercial sexual activities to enhance urban tourism. Through an intensive review of available literature, this paper has established that commercial sexual activities are one of the central tourist attraction products in a number of urban areas in Uganda even though it lacks official documentation. Consequently, neither the urban authorities nor the tourism agency cares paying attention to the huge tourism potential hidden in the commercial sex industry. It is encouraged that urban authorities document the number of participants in commercial sex work so that they can be used to enhance urban tourism. This study is useful to urban authorities and other key stakeholders working with urban populations particularly at a time when nations are turning to domestic tourism.

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Characterising the structure of the largest online commercial sex network in the UK: observational study with implications for STI prevention

Cited by 4 publications

References 46 publications

Exploring sexual contact networks by analyzing a nationwide commercial-sex review website

Exploring sexual contact networks by analyzing a nationwide commercial-sex review website

Disrupting drive-by download networks on Twitter

Towards deconstructing urban tourism within the framework of commercial sex work in Uganda

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