Craigslist Will Drop "Erotic Services" Section
Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal has announced that Craigslist will be dropping its controversial "erotic services" section, and will replace it with a moderated "adult" category.
Here's the AG's full statement:
"Craigslist is heeding our clear call for conscience and common sense, sending a strong signal that Internet sites must police themselves to protect others. As head of the multistate attorney general task force, I was informed by craigslist late last night that it will eliminate the erotic services section within seven days, create a new section called adult services, and manually review every ad posted there to bar flagrant prostitution and pornography.
"We will be monitoring closely to make sure that this measure is more than a name change from erotic to adult and that the manual blocking is tough and effective to scrub prostitution and pornography. Our continuing investigation will assure that these steps are substance, not just spin, and that craigslist really shuts down its open online red light district.
"These measures are a solid next step, not a complete solution. Closing the erotic services section — a blatant Internet brothel — should lead to other blocking and screening measures, and set a model for other sites, if craigslist keeps its word.
"We're not going away: we will monitor this site and others to make sure prostitution and pornography do not migrate and move elsewhere.
"Our watchword is trust, but verify. Craigslist's promise is a solid step toward restoring its good name and demonstrating its commitment to fight prostitution and sexual exploitation. I urge craigslist to vigorously police itself to keep plain-sight prostitution and pornography off the site.
"I am pleased that craigslist is continuing to cooperate with our coalition of more than 40 states. I look forward to continuing the battle — hopefully with craigslist as a partner — against prostitution and human trafficking."
Attorney General Applauds Craigslist Elimination Of Erotic Services Section [CT AG]
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Comments:
So no more vague ads with grainy pictures saying things like "1/2 hour 60 roses" :P
I never understood how this went on in the first place. Prostitution is illegal. Who would post an ad on a public forum offering sexual favors for money? And how come nothing was done about it until now, after the Craiglist killer fiasco?
It boggles my mind that this went on for so long.
@Crabby Cakes: Erotic services need not be prostitution. The fact that we Americans still have such a huge stick up our butts over prostitution is a testimate to how screwed up our priorities are. Just tax it and regulate for safety, everyone wins.
This kind of crap just drives the, always there, prostitution to another, possibly worse venue. The cops have to start all over again trying to break into the new venue.
@Crabby Cakes: Prostituion is often illegal, but advertising for it is not, given the trouble in verifying what precise services are being offered.
For example, some BDSM folks offer what clearly constitute "adult services" but are not prostitution under the legal definitions of the term.
As for this decision, oh well. Folks will just figure out another way around it, they always do.
Really? Prostitution is illegal, yes. But it's also mankinds oldest profession.
The erotic services section was a good way to keep these ads away from the main content of craigslist.
A few people died and yes it is tragic, but its not exactly a pandemic.
Have you ever looked at the free pennysaver type ad's available next to newspapers in cities? The back section is usually filled with similar ad's for erotic services. I mean, take a look at the OC weekly or the LA weekly, its full of these ads and it is not anything new. For people to suddenly think this is a new epidemic of prostitution have been living under a rock.
I don't think Craigslist did anything wrong. Besides, changing it from 'Erotic Services' to 'Adult' won't do anything, who are they kidding.
Legalize it and tax it. Works for marijuana and prostitution. I partake in neither, but it seems to be a good revenue stream in Nevada.
Well I guess it's back to the looking for a good time on the bathroom wall then.
I can't imagine the amount of work it'll for an operation with Craigslist's manpower and philosophy to "review every posting" in the new forum.
The folks at the alternative newspapers across the nation are dancing a jig. CL nearly killed the free weekly papers.
So now they are going to monitor the posts.
Making them legally liable for Bad Things(TM) that occur.
Smaaaaaaaart.
Darn it. This is really going to cut into my Christmas fund this year.
sicknick
12:49 PM
So no more vague ads with grainy pictures saying things like "1/2 hour 60 roses" :P
No, now they will just skitter into other nooks and crannies of craigslist.
/like they did when CL introduced a fee for posting in ES
But where will I find all my foot fetish models?!?!?!?!
Yeah, what are the lefty rags going to do now? First they came for CraigsList, then they came for your local anti-establishment rag. Next thing you know they'll go after the whole intarweb!
How will I get Greek Lessons now? Where will I buy Circus Tickets?
For 300 smiles, they'll shut down "Missed Connections" too.
Having to manually review everything completely kills it. Can you imagine if Google had to manually review every website that was added to their search database? The internet is useful because it lets computers aggregate and distribute information. If we're going to start a trend of making people chaperone every bit of data every step of the way we might as well all get out our bikes and start stapling fliers to telephone poles.
Dang, now what will I spend my stockpile of "roses" and "kisses" on? Does anyone know of any legitimate businesses that accept them as payment?
For gods' sake, consenting adults, people.
Didn't the global financial apocalypse re-orient things at all? Aren't there enough white-collar criminals to chase down?
We're doomed. Just... Doomed.
Wait. You mean I could have charged for what I gave away for free?!!
:-(
@Crabby Cakes: Because similar ads have appeared in the back of local alt weeklies since the beginning of time. CL didn't invent them, they just made them much more visible.
Why do girls to it? Because a lot of them routinely charge $200-300 per hour (tax free). That is an enormous amount of cash for someone who would otherwise toil away waiting tables or some such for 1/20th that amount. And is the punishment really all that bad? When's the last time you heard of an escort going to prison for prostitution? They're just going to get a fine that is easily payable or do a short stint in county. The reward far outweighs the risk.
The smart girls also screen prospective clients. I'm guessing that the police focus on the low-hanging fruit and bust the stupid ones or the addicts who aren't as selective or discreet and arguably are bigger problems for public safety.
@Ayo: Annoying the posters and readers of the "Photo and Video" section who are just looking for some camera gear.
Why is this consumerist news, again? I don't think I've ever seen a post on here saying A PROSTITUTE TOOK MY MONEY AND DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH!!! etc.
Anyway, I'm glad they took it down... I know it's not the solution to the problem, but it sure as hell was part of it.
@ToddMU03:
Pretty much the only reason that Marijuana is illegal is because there is no effective reliable road side test to use for impairment.
since they cant test to see if your over "what ever legal limit would be" per x ammount of blood they just say to hell with it and mandate that it is illegal
funny how the laws between canada and the states differ.
here Prostitution is 100% Legal, Soliciting prostitution is 100% NOT legal
oh the crazy world we live in
Legalize, educate, regulate. Prostitution in the US will happen whether you like it or not, Uncle Sam. Better to ensure that all involved parties are clean, safe, and subject to taxation than to toss them all to the street or into prison.
Couldn't the cops or the attorney general monitor Craigslist for illegal activity? I guess they wanted it shut down so they won't have to start doing actual work. Lazy jerks.
@skwish: huh? Cannabis was deemed illegal long before DUIs were a consideration on the political landscape.
The various reasonings are pretty dubious, but have nothing to do with driving.
See!!??!! THIS is why we can't have nice things!
I should probably shut the fuck up now. /CL
@skwish: That so does not fly, considering ShortBus' point is 100% accurate.
People need to learn actual history and facts, instead of spewing nonsense.
@gggtur: Um, Craigslist wasn't doing anything illegal. Sexual services does not always mean prostitution.
@Sean Masters: It was only a few short years ago that Congress was actively debating whether to put people in prison for burning the American flag. Hell, it was only six years ago that SCOTUS ruled Texas's gay-sex ban unconstitutional.
The country may have veerer to the left slightly over the past year, but the Right still have considerable sway. It's going to be a very long time before we can even begin a national discussion about prostitution.
@snowmoon: Oh, I wasn't trying to say whether prostitution should be illegal or not and I agree with you. I guess I was really talking about the really blatant ads that actually advertised services and prices, not the less obvious "discreet massages" ads.
@Jessica Haas: I agree.
No matter how many outraged complaints along those lines I sent to the Consumerist tip line, they refused to print 'em.
@skwish: I have a mental picture of Canadian prostitutes miming their offerings on Toronto street corners, and I have to admit it's a pretty damned glorious vision.
@ToddMU03: I totally agree. We can't get rid of prostitution no matter what, so we may as well regulate it in a way that makes it safer for the women, less of a problem for public health, and less of a revenue stream for organized crime. It's a total no-brainer, with no real downsides. The only possible objection to legalizing it is "moral", which a) shouldn't be the basis for law, and b) ignores the competing immorality of our existing laws.
Same goes for drugs, although there I'll admit it's less clear cut because drugs vary so much in their potential for harm and addiction. For hard drugs, I think the laws should be based on whatever evidence-based approach can be shown to reduce addiction rates the most.
@lordargent: That's interesting. From time to time, I've scanned the M4W ads and was often disgusted by some of the posts that were blatant hookup attempts (read: incredibly kinky), wondering why they weren't in ES. I had no idea CL charged to post in that section.
Why are they grouping prostitution and pornography together? Would pornography be inappropriate in an "adult services" section?
Whoever is going to the Consumerist Panel Party, make sure to bring this topic up! I'd like to hear Craig Newmark's views on the removal.
+1 if he laments the loss in a totally cartoonish, over-egged way. +2 if he means it!
@ShortBus: Oh, I agree, just making the point. I would note that China is taking a more active role in ensuring safety and cleanliness of its prostitution industry - and with U.S. money!
I see Craigslist's Erotic Services section as a bad venue for underage children. There is no clarification for age except for trust.
If two willing adults want to exchange money for "services rendered", as long as it's not in my bed, I don't care.
@ToddMU03: Yeah, lemme tell you, Amsterdam and Vegas are such awesomely wonderful places. Where else can you actually visibly SEE society decay in front of your eyes?
@Radi0logy: I am guessing you were there? And you didn't indulge? But then again your right....it would really suck to have fun and enjoy ones self without consequence. The world will crumble once that happens.
@IT-Chick:
That's a whole different can of worms. If underage minors are wanting to see erotic images, there are far, far easier and more rewarding ways to do it then crawling through Craigslist. Like larvaetron said, I don't see why pornography is being lumped together with prostitution here. It's not illegal and seems perfectly legitimate to be located in an adult section.
i thought Erotic Services was an easy way for cops to crack down on prostitution.