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Craigslist Censors Adult Services Section
Classified ad site removes section after allegations of sex trafficking.
— -- Craigslist has self-censored the Adult Services section of its website as of late Friday night. The controversial section on the classified advertisement site's homepage has now been replaced with a black and white "CENSORED" box .
The move comes after attorneys general in 17 states stated in a joint letter last week that the site is aiding in illegal exploitation, prostitution and human trafficking. In the letter, Craig Newmark, Founder of Craigslist, Jim Buckmaster, CEO, and the site's attorney Edward Wes were asked to "immediately take down the Adult Services portion of craigslist."
"We hope to work closely with them, as we are with experts at nonprofits and in law enforcement, to prevent misuse of our site in facilitation of trafficking," Craigslist spokeswoman Susan MacTavish Best said last week.
Craigslist has previously taken steps to reduce misuse and illegal activities. In November 2008 the site began requiring a phone number and small fee to place an advertisement in the Erotic Services section.
In May 2009, after coming under further fire from state and local law enforcement from around the country, Craigslist replaced the Erotic Services section of its regional sites with the new Adult Services section. All advertisements in this section, according to Craigslist, would be screened by the site's employees before being posted and cost $10, rather than the previous $5 cost of an Erotic Services advertisement.
State attorneys and law enforcement have remained unsatisfied with Craigslist's efforts to curb illegal activity.
"In our view, the company should take immediate action to end the misery for the women and children who may be exploited and victimized by these ads," last week's letter stated. "Because Craigslist cannot, or will not, adequately screen these ads, it should stop accepting them altogether and shut down the Adult Services section."
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