According to the Prohibition of Prostitution Consumption Law, approved by the Israeli parliament in late 2018, any person who consumes prostitution commits an offense subject to a fine. The objective of this research study was to examine trends in the demand for prostitution in Israel following the law’s enactment, using data on Google searches using prostitution-related terms. Google Trends provides data on the relative volume of Google searches. This platform was chosen due to the difficulty of obtaining direct information on prostitution consumption and the widespread use of the internet for advertising prostitution. Search trends were analyzed for the Hebrew equivalents of the terms “prostitutes,” “escorts,” and “discreet apartments,” terms selected following consultations with experts, women in prostitution, and consumers of prostitution. Data was gathered for each month from January 2013 to April 2024. The study compared search volumes during key periods before and after the law's enactment and examined correlations between monthly search volumes and the number of fines imposed. Search volumes sharply declined following the law’s approval. Moreover, fluctuations in search volumes were linked to variations in the number of fines imposed. From mid-2022 onward, an upward trend in search volumes emerged concurrently with a decline in fines, although volumes remained below pre-law levels. These results suggest that the law reduced the demand for prostitution, despite evidence that its effect may be diminishing over time. To conclude, this study suggests that banning prostitution consumption may be effective in reducing demand, but only if it is followed by extensive enforcement.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Aluma Levi-Zohar holds an MA in International Relations and is an associate researcher at Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute for applied social research. Her fields of research include social service inspection policy and human trafficking. She is a member of a team that evaluates the national plan to combat human trafficking in Israel.
Amir Falk holds a PhD in Psychology and is a senior associate researcher at Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute for applied social research. His main fields of research include youth at-risk of human trafficking. He is a member of a team that evaluates the national plan to combat human trafficking in Israel.