Security

Craigslist Adult Ads Under Scrutiny — Again

Connecticut’s top law enforcement officer is subpoenaing Craigslist records to determine whether the site is complying with a year-old deal with attorneys general to censor the online bulletin board’s erotic ads. Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut attorney general, is seeking evidence to determine whether Craigslist is comporting with a deal with 39 attorneys general to recast […]
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal

Connecticut's top law enforcement officer is subpoenaing Craigslist records to determine whether the site is complying with a year-old deal with attorneys general to censor the online bulletin board's erotic ads.

Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut attorney general, is seeking evidence to determine whether Craigslist is comporting with a deal with 39 attorneys general to recast its "erotic services" category. Blumenthal said the new "adult services" section, which replaced the "erotic services" section, remains a "brothel."

"The Craigslist brothel business is booming –- belying its promise to fight prostitution," Blumenthal, who is running for the Senate, said in a statement. "The best evidence is thousands of ads that remain on Craigslist -- skimpily and slickly disguised with code words. We are asking Craigslist for specific answers about steps to screen and stop sex-for-money offers."

Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster blasted Blumenthal's allegations.

"As AG Blumenthal knows full well, Craigslist has gone beyond fulfilling its legal obligations, far beyond classifieds' industry norms, has more than lived up to any promises it made, and working together with its partners is, in fact, a leader in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation," Buckmaster said. "With his senatorial race in full swing however, AG Blumenthal won't let the facts get in the way of a good photo op."

Among other things, last year's deal with the attorneys general culminated with Craigslist agreeing to manually review the adult ads and verify telephone numbers of adult ads.

Blumenthal's subpoena seeks:

Documents describing the "manual review process" used to review potentially objectionable advertisements, including the total number of employees assigned to such review, and the number of advertisements eliminated or rejected as a result of these procedures.

Information about each advertisement eliminated, rejected or the subject of law enforcement communication.

Communications from law enforcement regarding advertisements involving or relating to suspected illegal activity and Craigslist's steps in response.

Documents substantiating Craigslist's claim that recently implemented new proprietary technical measures designed to further reduce the volume of inappropriate ads in the personals section … have eliminated the majority of inappropriate ads in the casual encounters subsection, and have, in fact reduced the total volume of all ads in that section by approximately 50 percent.

Documents describing Craigslist's telephone verification system for its erotic services or adult services sections, including the total number of ads eliminated or rejected as a result of these procedures;

Documents relating to the permanent blocking by Craigslist of telephone numbers due to the posting of unlawful or inappropriate advertisements, including the total number of accounts blocked.

Documents describing the credit card verification procedures used to block the accounts of persons who violate Craigslist's terms of use, including the total number of accounts blocked as a result of these procedures.

Documents relating to communications between Craigslist and any persons, companies, or other entities that offer or sell services and/or software designed to facilitate circumvention of Craigslist's terms of use.

Documents relating to the contribution of 100 percent of the net revenues from the sale of advertisements in Craigslist's erotic services or adult services category, including, but not limited to any decisions to limit or cease such contributions.

See Also: