Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2010/09/06/craigslist_row_again/

Craigslist blocks US escort ads

Save our sensitive souls

By John Oates

Posted in Legal, 6th September 2010 11:24 GMT

Craigslist has bowed to pressure and stopped access to erotic services ads for its sensitive US customers.

Even though the site gives profits from the section to charity and employed lawyers to pre-check every ad it still faced accusations that it was profiting from child prostitution.

The site simply replaced the "erotic services" link on its page with a banner reading "censored".

The rest of the world, or at least the bits we looked at, still has the option of browsing for "erotic services" ranging from naked housecleaners to escorts and masseuses.

The site has defending itself against what it sees as unfair media accusations over the section - most recently by CNN.

It has repeatedly defended itself against accusations of profiting from human trafficking and insisted it is part of the solution - unlike the many print papers which offer similar adverts with less control or fewer checks.

The company has complained that the likes of eBay and Village Voice have failed to take any action against similar services offered on their sites.

Attorneys General from 17 US states claimed last month that adverts for child prostitution were "rampant" on the site. They called for the immediate closure of the adult services section of the site.

Although the section has now been removed it might be worth remembering why it was introduced in the first place - to stop sex workers posting their ads all over the rest of the site.

We predict either they'll move to other sites which specialise in such services, or they'll go back to old school ads for "French polisher" and "lady with large chest"... ®