The article from ASU is fascinating, with some interesting statistics and scary implications.

" …plac[ed] decoy online sex ads on escort services classified websites in fifteen cities … and the researchers collected distinct phone numbers of 451 online sex ad customers."

There are numerous questions.  Among them: What was the content of the decoy ads?  What response would be obtained by those answering the fake ads?  What has been done with the numbers collected?

And are further studies planned or underway?  By whom?  Using what methodology?

If law enforcement is focusing on "trafficking" —i.e., activity involving deception and coercion of individuals or anything involving those under the age of consent— that is fine.  If the aim is to hassle folks who want to arrange in activities between consenting adults, that is not.

To some, NSA means "no strings attached," but could it now have a more sinister meaning?  [Edward Snowden, call your office!  Oh, wait  … .]

And let me add that, as an offender, I am offended!

Seriously, thanks to ed2000 for this posting.

As usual, caveat emptor.