Craigs List Censors Adult Ads

[Brett_Tabke]

Craigslist, the Internet's iconic ad bazaar, has stopped allowing U.S. users to access its "adult services" ads.

On Saturday morning, the link to those ads - which had been criticized by prosecutors and human-trafficking groups as a tool for pimps and prostitutes - were replaced by a black box with the word "censored" in white letters. News reports indicated that the ads were still visible to users in other countries.

It's unclear, for now, whether the change is a temporary statement or a signal that Craigslist will stop allowing the ads.

In a statement, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D) - who was among 17 attorneys general who last month asked Craigslist to shut down its "adult" section - said he welcomed "Craigslist's apparent decision to close" the section.
[washingtonpost.com...]

[woop01]

Where is the outrage over censorship of puppies, guns, marijuana, and copyright violations?

Illegal drugs aren't advertised on Craigslist because they are marketed through other means. Prostitution rings kept flooding Craigslist because the exposure of a mainstream website was important to them. Craigslist was actively participating in their business.

I wonder if this outrage over censorship would exist here if it were a content theft section.

[wheel]

I wonder if this outrage over censorship would exist here if it were a content theft section.

Content theft <> prostitution.

Prostitution isn't even illegal everywhere in the US I think, which seems to be where both the website and the issue started.

[J_RaD]

^ i believe there is only ONE place it is legal.

[woop01]

I fully realize content theft is not prostitution and that's my point. Craigslist has specific policies regarding that crime but there's no outrage that people can't sell content that violates other's copyrights.

Claiming it’s different because it’s legal in certain parts of the United States and they are American company conveniently ignores the fact the entire site is organized by regions. There are 415 city/regional United States categories on Craigslist. Out of those 415 categories, there is only one where prostitution is legal, Elko NV.

Craigslist prohibits pretty much every illegal activity you can think of and some activities that are legal in virtually every region they have a category for. The outrage over censorship of blatant solicitation for prostitution is either ignorant of the policies of the site or terribly hypocritical.

[wheel]

Actually, it's more like meh, who cares. I don't care if Craigslist sells ads to prostitutes, don't care if people offer their services through craigslist, and don't care if people take advantage of other's services as a result of an ad. Have fun.

It's like marijuana, what's the big deal. I don't do either one but I don't lie awake at night worrying that my neighbors are having a joint then doing some twisted sex act. Which is good, because I bet they're doing both.

[woop01]

I have no issue with what you're saying but that's a different political discussion.

[Marcia]

Who cares? The parents of missing kids - and thank goodness - others concerned about the trafficking of children.

[missingkids.com ]

Another target is trafficking of "foreigners" looking for a better life, brought in to serve in illicit slavery. Watch enough episodes of Law & Order - Special Victims Unit and the extent and enormity of human trafficking problems starts to dawn.

There's a congressional hearing being broadcast right now on c-span. It's not fiction what goes on - not to the victims and their loved ones.

[wheel]

Puleeze. that's stretching it. Craigslist is responsible for illicit slavery now

[woop01]

Wheel, it's really not. There are at least a dozen documentaries on the subject if you would like to enlighten yourself.

[wheel]

Thanks, I'll pass. I don't need to watch documentation to know that people are responsible for their own actions, and that an online ad company isn't responsible for child trafficking.

That's right up there with saying that my father was an alcoholic and beat me as a child, so therefore it's his fault that I drink and beat my children. I beat my children because they don't listen, nobody makes me do it.

[woop01]

As I said earlier, that's a different political discussion. Taking the live and let live approach is easy until the reality of the industry exposes the fact it is far from people making their own choices.

In the one region on Craigslist where prostitution is regulated, that's not a problem. In the other 450 or so it is.

With all due respect, if you don't understand the industry, I'm not sure why you think you are in a position to discuss it intelligently.

[wheel]

Sure, I'm unable to discuss my opinion intelligently (and this is an opinion, you don't have any 'facts' that says craigslist is directly responsible for any of the craziness they're being painted with. Note that a long series of tenuous connections are not 'facts').

In other news, WebmasterWorld is also responsible for whatever you post here, and you're not responsible. Right?

[woop01]

My point has been all along that it is hypocritical of Craigslist to allow prostitution on their site when they block virtually every other illegal activity and numerous legal activities. For heaven’s sake, they block the sale of puppies. Serving as a marketing platform for blatant prostitution was not them standing up for freedom or free speech.

I have also been quite clear that the general idea of the legal status of prostitution is a different political discussion. If you are trying to have a discussion about the legalization of prostitution in the United States, that’s a different forum.

Craigslist is not being painted with craziness, the illegal industry they were accepting millions of dollars to promote is.

[Rugles]

This move by Craigslist will NOT save one single child. To presume it will is just plain naive. That horrible crime was happening long before CL existed.

[woop01]

The sale of dogs, cats, fireworks, alcohol, tobacco, non-packed food items, airline tickets that prohibit transfer, lock-picks, batteries containing mercury, bodily fluids, counterfeit currency, warez, raffle tickets, defibrillators, hearing aids, ammunition magazines, and pesticides all happened before CL and continue to happen now.

Where is the anger over CL blocking the listing of them?