Salesforce Petition Reignites Sex-Trafficking Liability Fight

Salesforce Inc.’s petition asking the Seventh Circuit to rehear a case over its business ties with Backpage.com—the now-defunct site that became overrun with sex-trafficking ads—has rekindled a legal battle over the interaction of US anti-trafficking statutes and the legal liability shield for internet companies.

The petition seeks to re-examine a three-judge panel’s split decision finding Salesforce could be held liable in a lawsuit brought by a sex-trafficking victim because the San Francisco tech company sold software services to Backpage.com.

The August ruling reversed a Chicago trial court judge who dismissed the suit on the grounds that Salesforce is protected by ...