Earlier in the year I wrote this post about shutting down Craigslist’s adult ads which were responsible for online prostitution and child trafficking. At that time, there were many heated debates regarding the right approach for bringing attention to this, including boycotting the site. Some people felt that boycotting was the wrong approach because it was the “Christian status quo.” Instead we should “thank them for donating money to anti-trafficking organizations,” (which was a PR trick and the organization sent the money back), etc.
At any rate, I’m happy to say that boycotts, lawsuits, and public outrage has paid off and Craigslist has been forced to shut down the adult services ads in the United States as stated by this CNN report.
“This step is very much in the right direction,” said Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who spearheaded a letter from 17 attorneys general who recently banded together to urge Craigslist to discontinue its adult services section.The embattled website has been under fire for allegations that it promotes prostitution.“These prostitution ads enable human trafficking and assaults on women,” said Blumenthal. “They are flagrant and rampant. Craigslist has lacked the wherewithal or will to effectively screen them out.”
“The increasingly sharp public criticism of Craigslist’s Adult Services section reflects a growing recognition that ads for prostitution — including ads trafficking children — are rampant on it,” the attorneys general had said in an Aug. 24 letter to Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster and Founder Craig Newmark.
Unfortunately, these ads are still up in foreign countries, which continues to make it easy for sex traffickers to exploit women and children. If Craigslist is serious about this issue they will shut them down too.
Thanks for your work in being a voice, writing to your senators and congressmen/women, and boycotting. It has paid off.
Thanks to Free the Captives blog for the photo.
posted September 6, 2010 at 12:13 pm
While I am glad to see some progress and I am also glad that the A.G. Blumenthal (interesting that he’s taken such a public and outspoken interest while running for election) acknowledged it as a “STEP in the right direction.” Unfortunately from what I read in the CNN article a strong case could be made that this is just another example of Americans sticking their fingers in their ears, closing their eyes and shouting “I can’t hear you so you don’t exist!”
Maybe they should just leave the adds on craigslist but if you click on the add you have to watch a 30 second video on the effects of human trafficking, sex slavery, child exploitation, STD’s and/or the legal consequences of engaging in prostitution. At the end of the video a box would pop up that asks “would you like to continue?”
Realistically, those who would click “yes” are only inconvenienced by craigslist paltry action of killing the U.S. link to the content on their site.
End of sermon.
You rock Tom!
posted September 6, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Hey, I posted this on my blog. So glad for this step in the right direction.
posted September 7, 2010 at 9:04 am
It was the highlight of my day to go to Craigslist and see the word “CENSORED” where the adult ads were usually placed.
posted September 7, 2010 at 9:34 am
Unfortunately a large number of the offenders are up and running under the heading “casual encounters” on Craigslist. It didn’t take them long.
posted October 2, 2010 at 9:20 pm
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