Craigslist has added “erotic services” as its third paid section (in selected markets) in an effort to crack down on illegal activities, such as child exploitation. The site will now require a nominal $5 fee, paid via credit card, to post such ads. The policies were developed in consultation with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and law enforcement from more than 40 states.
Previously, the site imposed requirements that erotic service advertisers register verifiable phone numbers. It says that abusive listings have declined by 80 percent since the phone number rule was imposed. The site also warns that erotic service guideline violators will not receive a refund and their information will be turned over to authorities. All erotic services fees, whether abusive or not, will be donated to related charities.
“No amount of criminal activity is acceptable, and as Craigslist has grown, we have become aware of instances where our free services were being misused to facilitate illegal activities,” said CEO Jim Buckmaster, in a statement. “We are unequivocally committed to stamping out misuse of the site and to improving safety for Craigslist users
Most of Craigslist’s revenues currently come from recruitment ads, which are $75 in San Francisco, and $25 in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston, Portland, Sacramento, Seattle and San Diego. The site also charges $10 for apartment listings in New York (an effort that has also been described as another effort to crack down on listing abuse).
Meanwhile, a few comments on the Craigslist blog indicate disappointment on the alleged suppression of speech. One commenter predicted that paid sex listers will work around the restrictions. “Get ready to play Whack A Mole,” said “John.” “The erotic services people will now post their ads in other sections of Craigslist.”
An honest rephrasing of Buckmaster’s statement follows:
“Any amount of criminal activity is not only acceptable, but encouraged, as long as it contributes to Craigslist’s growth and doesn’t draw too much heat from the authorities.
“We are unequivocally committed – just look at our long, clear track record – to fostering abuses, no matter what the cost to our users, that result in our appearing to be forced to charge for our services.”
Local Onliners, please note: I changed my original posting, which wasn’t clear whether Craigslist was keeping any of the money from erotic services. Backmaster has written in: it absolutely isn’t.
One could argue, as my wife does, that they shouldn’t be involved in this distasteful area in the first place. The answer: we all have different ideas of personal expression.
If they were really so self-riteous, they’d get rid of the “erotic services” section all together. “we have become aware of instances where our free services were being misused to facilitate illegal activities”.. give me a break! They knew what that section was for the first day they created it. The only thing that could be on there that would be considered erotic service but legal would phone sex ads and strip club ads. Everything else is illegal. Yet hookers are ok as long as we gain traffic from, wait no, now it’s only ok if we make money off of it. Whatever…