Craigslist Reports “˜Spectacular’ Decline In Erotic Ads
Responding to allegations that it promotes prostitution, Internet bulletin board Craigslist said on Tuesday that it has seen "spectacular" results in its efforts to reduce "erotic services" listings.
Writing in a blog post, Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster said the volume of erotic services ads had plunged 90 to 95 percent in Chicago and four other U.S. cities since stricter measures were put in place last year.
The crackdown on the sex ads is a direct result of a collaborative effort launched last November with 40 U.S. attorneys general and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Buckmaster said.
"The early results from the collaborative joint effort … have been spectacular," he wrote.
"Craigslist staff have continued to work closely with law enforcement agencies across the country to vigorously pursue those engaged in the horrific crimes of human trafficking and exploitation of minors."
The work includes verifying telephone numbers listed in ads, charging fees and requiring those placing the ads to provide valid credit card information, Craigslist said.
Buckmaster’s blog posting is the Web site’s latest shot at Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart, who has sued Craigslist for promoting prostitution with free classified "erotic services" ads.
Dart filed his lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court, charging Craigslist with being the United States’ largest source of prostitution for allowing ads by people offering sex for cash.
The lawsuit came four months after San Francisco-based Craigslist settled a nationwide lawsuit by pledging to adopt new rules to clamp down on prostitution.
"This section is a convenient clearing house for pimps, prostitutes and patrons that enables sellers to advertise and buyers to peruse discretely," said Dart in court filings.
Dart is seeking a complete removal of Craigslist’s Erotic Services section, along with reimbursement for tax dollars spent compensating officers who investigate and arrest those responsible for trafficking prostitutes on the Web site.
However, Craigslist’s lawyers maintain that U.S. law protects Craigslist and other websites from being responsible for user-generated content. And Buckmaster has pledged a "vigorous" defense against Dart’s lawsuit.
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