Blick reported on September 26, 2026, about a tool that is transforming counseling services in the sex industry: The national network Procore, an umbrella organization of around two dozen counseling centers, has developed software that searches sex portals for active listings, filters them by region, and sends the phone numbers registered there via WhatsApp. The message contains no offer and no request for services, but rather information about the counseling center responsible in the respective canton.
The figures from the pilot phase 2025: 16 cantons covered, around 9,000 contacts, approximately ten percent of those contacted responded promptly. According to Procore, others get in touch later when they actually need support. By 2027, the procedure is to be rolled out across all of Switzerland. CEO Rebecca Angelini describes the reason as follows: «The digitalization of the sex industry means that some sex workers are no longer reached by traditional counseling.» The article estimates the number of sex workers in Switzerland at around 20,000 and identifies recurring issues as rents—in Zurich 3,000 to 4,000 francs per month for a basic room—the cantonal differences in legal status, and digital violence such as data theft and cyberstalking.
What this means for day-to-day work: If you post ads online, you’ll likely receive a message from an unknown number in the future—and this time it won’t be a time-waster or a client, but a counseling center. The practical benefit is real: low-threshold access to legal, health, and safety advice without contact with authorities and without having to figure out yourself who is responsible in your own canton. This is especially valuable for people who work alone from apartments and have not previously been reached by outreach work.
The other side: The action shows how easily ad phone numbers can be machine-harvested and sorted by region. Procore calls the application compliant with data protection—but technically, someone with bad intentions could do the same thing. If you work online, it’s still best to continue using a separate work phone number.
Has a counseling center ever contacted you unsolicited via WhatsApp, and how did you respond?