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Periodicity of sex worker touring: an image-assisted analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Fumin Li

    (Chongqing University)

  • Yisu Zhou

    (University of Macau)

  • Tianji Cai

    (University of Macau)

Abstract

Previous research has emphasized male tourists paying local women for sex while abroad. Recent studies reveal a shift: sex workers themselves travel on short tourist visas to provide services, often returning multiple times yearly to the same locations. Our research examined 19,608 posts and 49,008 pictures from a popular forum in Macao, a gambling hub in Asia. Through combined text mining and facial recognition analysis of online solicitations, we uncovered distinct patterns in sex worker visits. Sex workers showed significantly higher likelihood of returning within 7-day periods, aligning with Macao’s visa policies. We built social networks using recognized sex workers, phone numbers, and posting accounts. This allowed us to develop metrics that assess organized crime involvement in online solicitation. Results revealed escalating third-party involvement throughout the study period. Professional brokers increasingly operated posting accounts, while shared phone numbers became more prevalent. Our analysis used a 30-day sliding window to examine recurrence factors. This approach confirmed both the 7-day periodicity and strong positive correlations between organized crime metrics and sex worker return rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Fumin Li & Yisu Zhou & Tianji Cai, 2025. "Periodicity of sex worker touring: an image-assisted analysis," Journal of Computational Social Science, Springer, vol. 8(3), pages 1-34, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jcsosc:v:8:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s42001-025-00397-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s42001-025-00397-5
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