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South Carolina Attorney General Investigates Craigslist Craigslist Sues in Retaliation
What started as a joint effort by Craigslist’s CEO, Jim Buckmaster, and United States Attorney Generals to control unlawful activity and improve public safety, has resulted in a criminal investigation of Craigslist and its executives by Henry McMaster, the Attorney General of South Carolina, and a lawsuit launched by Craigslist against Henry McMaster. Craigslist provides local classifieds and forums for 570 cities in 50 countries, and has more than 20 billion page views and 50 million users each month.
On May 5, 2009, McMaster wrote a letter to Buckmaster claiming that Craigslist had not installed sufficient safeguards to prevent the solicitation of prostitution and the dissemination of pornographic materials, and advising that Craigslist management may be subject to criminal investigation and prosecution. In response to this letter, Craigslist announced that it would remove its “erotic services” category and implement other protective measures, although such measures were not satisfactory to McMaster.
Buckmaster, who believes that Craigslist is operating in full compliance with all applicable laws and has implemented sufficient protective measures to guard against unlawful activity, asked McMaster to retract his remarks, agree not to investigate Craigslist, and apologize at his earliest convenience. With no response from McMaster, Buckmaster sued McMaster in federal court in South Carolina on May 20, 2009, seeking declaratory relief and a restraining order with respect to criminal charges McMaster has repeatedly threatened against Craigslist and its executives. Later that day, McMaster acknowledged that Craigslist has removed the erotic services section from its website and that Craigslist is now taking responsibility for the content of their future advertisements, but that Craigslist will continue to be monitored to ensure compliance with the law.
For additional information, visit:
http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/striking-a-new-balance/
http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/an-apology-is-in-order/
http://blog.craigslist.org/2009/05/cl-sues-sc-ag-for-declaratory-relief/