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Connecticut Pressures Craigslist Over Prostitution Ads

by Terrence O'Brien on March 31, 2008 at 09:38 AM


We're all pretty aware that Craigslist is great for finding free or cheap crap in your neighborhood. We're also pretty well aware that Craigslist is the place for ladies of the night to advertise their services.

The Attorney General (AG) of Connecticut however has decided that Craigslist isn't doing enough to keep the advertisers of sexual services for pay off the free classified web site and is threatening legal action. Prostitutes often advertise under the 'Erotic Services' heading and offer "companionship" for "roses."

Craigslist has tools in place to help filter out content, but it relies strongly on users flagging inappropriate and illegal material. The Connecticut AG said in a press release that the site "has a moral if not possible legal responsibility to assure that it avoids serving as a conduit for prostitution and other illegal activity." He has given the company 10 days to respond to the letter before considering possible legal action.

It's unclear how Craigslist will be able to filter out more of the illegal postings. With only 20 employees reviewing each listing individually, the task of finding each and every questionable site is impossible, and automated systems can only accomplish so much. The Connecticut AG may just have to come to terms with the Web site's limited resources.

From The Tech Chronicles

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Tags: craigslist, law, prostitution, sex

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