Platform Design Criticised for Embedding Harm and Blocking Escape Routes
Andrew Wallis, CEO of the anti-slavery charity Unseen based in Bristol, has issued a stark warning in response to a recent editorial on adult services websites. He emphasises that the core issue lies not in isolated misuse but in the very architecture of digital platforms, which he claims embeds harm and restricts exit routes for victims of sexual exploitation.
Alarming Statistics Highlight Urgent Crisis
Unseen's modern slavery helpline reported 799 potential victims of sexual exploitation in 2025, with cases of child sexual exploitation more than doubling from 53 to 110 in 2024. These figures are not mere projections but real cases reported directly by victims and frontline workers who had nowhere else to turn, underscoring the severity of the situation.
Structural Flaws in Platform Design
Wallis argues that this is not about bad actors exploiting neutral tools. Instead, he asserts that platform design itself embeds harm and restricts exit routes, making it a fundamental design question that requires design-based solutions. He points out that the Online Safety Act already provides a regulatory framework, but what is lacking is the political will to enforce it effectively.
Removing Platforms Drives Exploitation Underground
He cautions against simplistic responses, noting that removing platforms does not end exploitation but merely moves it underground, severing victims from crucial support networks. The critical question, according to Wallis, is whether regulatory responses are designed to genuinely reduce harm or merely to reduce visibility, as these objectives are not the same thing.
Call for Action Beyond Visibility
In conclusion, Wallis urges policymakers and regulators to focus on enforcing existing laws like the Online Safety Act to address the embedded harms in platform design, rather than opting for measures that only curb visibility without tackling the root causes of sexual exploitation.
