The law, which Gov. Chris Christie signed in May and is aimed at combating the sexual trafficking of minors, is pre-empted by federal legislation that gives websites and Internet providers some immunity for content provided by third parties, the judge held.
The judge issued the holding last week after oral arguments in a lawsuit filed by Backpage.com challenging the anti-sex-trafficking law. Backpage.com is “a website that has become the nation’s top forum for ads for thinly veiled references to prostitution since Craigslist shut its adult services section in 2010,” according to the Associated Press.