Craigslist fights back against 'erotic ad' charges
Summary
Topics
The number of ads for such services is down 90 percent to 95 percent during the past 12 months on Craigslist sites that serve five major U.S. cities, according to information posted on a company blog. The site credited the "spectacular" reduction on its joint effort with 40 attorneys general and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children it announced in November 2008, which included the introduction of new measures that require posters to the erotic section to furnish a working phone number and credit card:
Beyond the enormous reduction in ad volume, the ads that remain on the site are much improved in their compliance with our Terms of Use and local laws, in part due to screening measures developed in collaboration with the Attorneys General and law enforcement.
In this same timespan, craigslist staff have continued to work closely with law enforcement agencies across the country to vigorously pursue those engaged in the horrific crimes of human trafficking and exploitation of minors.
Finally, net revenue is accumulating from the fees now required of those posting under "erotic services," 100% of which is earmarked for donation to worthy charities, and we will soon be in position to begin distributing these funds.
The site also released the graph below to illustrate the reduction in erotic services ad volume during the past year for the cities of Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and Seattle.
The blog posting is an apparent response to a federal lawsuit filed Thursday against Craigslist by the sheriff of Illinois' Cook County, alleging that the Web's largest classifieds publication is "facilitating prostitution." Sheriff Tom Dart asked the court to force Craigslist to remove the Web publication's erotic section and for $100,000 in compensation for the man-hours the county has had to pay police to investigate alleged criminal services being advertised on the site.
In a previous response to Dart's lawsuit, Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster suggested that the suit was a waste of time.
"As our counsel explained to Sheriff Dart's Department in 2007," Buckmaster wrote, "Craigslist cannot be held liable, as a matter of clear federal law, for content submitted to the site by our users...Frankly, Sheriff Dart's actions mystify me."
This article was originally posted on CNET News.
Talkback Most Recent of 18 Talkback(s)
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Looks to me like Craisglist is helping
Not working against law enforcement. Oh, let me guess, if Craislist gets hammered then prostitution will go away. Pfffttt...
No_Ax_to_Grind10th Mar 2009 -
Sheriff might have to prove
That Craigslist is the only website that
knowingly promotes prostitution in his
jurisdiction. And of course, Craigslist isn't
knowingly promoting this, settled law protects
them, and you know there are other websites out
there that promote these services in the
Chicago area.
Now he looks like a fool, as Craigslist is able
to publicly tout the success and breadth of
their proactive measures to combat the
situation in several cities. Hopefully,
they'll roll this out to all cities, though.
Spats3010th Mar 2009 -
It's just as well...
Have you actually seen the erotic section? It's full of fugly skanks. I wouldn't touch those disease-ridden ladies with a 10" pole.
Larsix10th Mar 2009 -
It will get worse...
The good sheriff's race over the cliff is just the start. The hookers are already ahead of the curve, and in another year or two he'll figure it out. Since Craigslist put even the minimal 'rules' they're using into the 'ES' category, the 'offensive ads' are now blasted all over a dozen other categories. In the end, the puritans will find some way to chase their own tails (almost-pun semi-intended) until CL has to spend way more than it's worth to play morals monitor for the repressed minority. As usual, it'll accomplish nothing and cost us all.
semi-adult11th Mar 2009 -
RE: Craigslist fights back against 'erotic ad' charges
Chicago crying foul and suing for $100k for doing their job? They'll just put out more red light cameras to offset this.
I live in Cook County. I wish I know where and who I could complain to about this lawsuit.
sparagi@...11th Mar 2009 -
Sheriff should pay
The sheriff admits to tracking down the advertisers on Craig's List. Where else would he get a nice compact source of data for his job? Craig's List didn't create these ads or businesses. It seems like they facilitated law enforcement's ability to ferret out the illegal trade. Sheriff, cough up $100,000 as a reward to the list for helping you find those "really bad criminals".
dnendza11th Mar 2009 -
On to the next wave
ES twitters, anyone?
Geedavey11th Mar 2009 -
CL makes money from prostitution and knows it
I do not understand why CL even has an erotic services section. It appears to be nearly entirely prostitution ads. And now they are charging - benefitting - from this content. That sounds like a step in the wrong direction. In SF I see ads going up at the rate of one every 15 mins, which probably is a reduction over the past, but hardly well contained.
gbambo11th Mar 2009 -
And now they are charging - benefitting - from this content.
Read the story again if at all.
It says the fees collected are to be donated!!!
And why shouldn't they have a "personals" section, even my local paper has one, and you don't think any of the people in there are in the prostitution trade??? Get real. Besides the Sheriff should be thankful he has such a handy source to go to find these people, instead of having to stand out on the street corners with decoys trying to lure the 'Johns' in to a trap. All that said 'ADULT' prostitution should be legal anyway! But that's another story all together.
ronfdunn@...11th Mar 2009 -
nothing for nothing BUT....
I think this sherif is an idiot and should not be waisting time and money on this.
also Craigs list is not the only services online and off that have an adult section.
it might be more popular since more people heard about Craigs List, but not the only one there.
furthermore, I do not understand why this people so much after prostitution un less some other illigal activity is going on beside the obviose, if we would just legalise it it would make it easyer for Low enforcment to go after the real crime like child traffiking , drugs, and slave traffiking.
vbp111th Mar 2009 -
I know how to get rid of this prostitution crime
It is very simple. Legalize prostitution and the crime is gone. Why would any american want to tell a female what to do with her body ? It is her personal responsibility. If she chooses to have sex for money, to for example feed her kids, pay the rent and so on, I say - be it. Republicans were always talking about personal responsibility so why not take it one step further ? If people can buy guns that only have one purpose - to kill - why not legalize sex which in fact have quite the opposite purpose ?
Instead of ruining peoples lives for nothing, the law enforcement should work on the real issues. Namely cocaine and heroin trafficking and such. Obviously religious fanatics, namely christians and jews, will not let it happen.
dcdavy11th Mar 2009 -
Are you insane?
dcdavy,
Are you insane? This is what you said, "Legalize prostitution and the crime is gone. Why would any american want to tell a female what to do with her body ?"
Do you not realize how many of these women are actually sex slaves opposed to their will? Legalizing prostitution will not work - you are not tackling the root of the problem. If it really was that easy to get rid of the crime, don't you think it would have been done by now? Solving surface issues don't work..it's about the root.
dan8512th Mar 2009 -
re: you are not tackling the root of the problem
You write:>>you are not tackling the root of the problem
What is that and how would you tackle the oldest profession?
dpatjhh12th Mar 2009 -
no I am not
mr. dan85,
When I say to let woman do whatever she wants with her body, I say "whatever she wants". Forcing someone to do things they don't want to do is a bad thing, in case of sexual slavery it is a crime too. Why would you mix the female's free choice with a forced slavery is beyond me. By allowing prostitution you by no means legalize sex trade. It is like saying that by legalizing the use of cars you legalized killing pedestrians by car drivers.
Your response to my opinion was completely off the point. I assume you are a miserable man who can't imagine a world where people actually do have some freedoms. That is soooo typical of americans. Either my truth or nothing at all.
Have a good daydcdavy13th Mar 2009 -
yes you are
You act like most prostitues aren't just trying to exercise their rights by doing whatever they want with their bodies.
Sure not all prostitutes are forced slavery.
But what about those who see no other way?
That's what the previous poster means about getting to the root of the problem.
t0mmyt@...17th Mar 2009
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