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Craigslist Barely Bans Adult Ads
On September 4, 2010, in response to public outcry over high profile scandals involving alleged sexual assault, child prostitution and forced prostitution perpetrated in connection with ads placed in the adult and erotic services sections of online classifieds service Craigslist, Craigslist put a censored sign on the U.S. versions of those listings. Although attorneys general in the U.S. have failed to hold Craigslist executives accountable for the prostitution (the U.S. federal Communications Decency Act protects Websites from this type of liability), 17 states have publicly demanded that Craigslist change its ways.
Some columnists have argued that the purported ban merely encourages perpetrators of those crimes to use other sections of Craigslist to place their ads; and as such, the purported ban is illusory. They also argue that the attorneys general are unfairly treating Craigslist vis-à-vis other classified ads providers, by pressuring Craigslist to refuse business other classified ad providers continue to do. International versions of Craigslist still contain advertising in the erotic services and adult sections.
For commentary on the Craigslist self-imposed ban, visit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/06/technology/06craigslist.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20015639-71.html?tag=rtcol;pop#ixzz0yqufXMaE
For allegations of child prostitution and trafficking involving Craigslist in Canada, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/2u9jymr
For allegations of assault involving Craigslist in the U.S., visit:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/09092010/laurnew171214_32547.php