Rep. Maloney: Google Does the Right Thing on Sex-For-Pay App

Press Release

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) spoke today about a destructive illegal escort service app. Google listened, and then did the right thing, removing the app from the Google-hosted Android marketplace.

Earlier today, Congresswoman Maloney was notified about an app marketed under the name "Utoopi", designed to be used for locating escorts using mobile phones and tablets that operate the Android operating system. The app offered to connect users with escorts and, according to its own description, "all the sex you want" in four cities, including New York.

Immediately after learning of this disturbing app, Representative Maloney fired off a letter to Google (attached) saying in part:

"…It is appalling beyond belief that someone would try to market an 'app' like Utoopi, which is about illegal escort services plain and simple. I urge you to ban the promotion of sex services and immediately remove Utoopi from the Android 'app' marketplace hosted by Google."

Google listened, and today took down the app from the "play.google.com" marketplace.

Background
In April, Reps. Maloney and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) requested -- and received -- clarification of Google's policies relating to escort service ads on the Google service. In response, Google reaffirmed its policies against advertising such services. Find out more at http://maloney.house.gov/press-release/reps-blackburn-and-maloney-join-efforts-address-online-promotion-human-trafficking.

Source