In recent weeks, a growing number of legally registered sex workers in Nevada have found themselves unexpectedly locked out of their social media profiles. Despite operating fully within the law, many report that their accounts particularly on X (formerly Twitter) have been suspended or permanently removed without warning.
Nevada remains the only U.S. state where licensed brothels are legally permitted to operate. Workers employed in these establishments are regulated, taxed, and approved under state and county law. Yet even with this legal status, their online presence is increasingly under threat.
Accounts Removed Without Explanation
Several brothel-based professionals have stated that their profiles complied with platform rules and contained only safe-for-work content. These accounts were primarily used for personal branding, public education, and legal business promotion not for illegal solicitation.
One well-known courtesan, who had spent years building a substantial following, described waking up to discover her account gone overnight. With tens of thousands of followers lost instantly, she said the experience was both professionally damaging and emotionally exhausting.
According to multiple workers, no prior warnings were issued. Appeals, when submitted, were either ignored or rejected automatically.
Free Speech Promises vs. Reality
X publicly positions itself as a platform that champions free expression. However, many in the legal sex work community argue that enforcement policies tell a different story.
Some workers point out a striking contradiction: while consensual, lawful content from adult professionals is removed, the platform has struggled to curb the spread of AI-generated non-consensual imagery sometimes involving disturbing or unethical uses of artificial intelligence.
Critics argue that moderation systems appear to disproportionately target women, adult creators, and sex workers, even when no rules are knowingly violated.
Overly Broad “Sexual Services” Policies
At the heart of the issue lies the platform’s definition of “sexual services.” Current policy language broadly restricts any content that could be interpreted as offering in-person adult services, regardless of local legality.
This wording places escorting, adult massage, sugar dating, and brothel work under the same umbrella without distinction between illegal activity and regulated professions. As a result, even licensed workers in legal jurisdictions can be flagged automatically.
Industry insiders warn that these vague definitions leave room for aggressive enforcement, often driven by algorithms rather than human review.
Not Just a Nevada Problem
While the recent wave of account removals has drawn attention in Nevada, similar reports are emerging across Europe. Sex workers in countries where escorting is legal such as parts of Central Europe, the UK, and the EU have also experienced mass bans under the same policy framework.
In many cases, even resharing content or engaging in discussions related to adult services has resulted in permanent account loss, with no realistic path to reinstatement.
A Growing Digital Exclusion
For legal sex workers, social media is more than a marketing tool it is a key channel for safety communication, advocacy, and income stability. Losing access can mean losing visibility, clients, and personal security.
Many now fear that if lawful professions can be erased from online platforms without due process, broader forms of expression could follow.
