Attorney General Applauds Craigslist Elimination Of Erotic Services Section

May 13, 2009
"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."