Attorneys General Demand That Craigslist Stop Offending Them

Seventeen state attorneys general are demanding that Craigslist abolish its "Adult Services" section, which used to be called "Erotic Services" and still features ads for full-body massages, sexy blond hotties, and busty brunettes. Evidently some of these advertisers are actually prostitutes. This means that, unlike the men and women who offer up their bodies in the "Personals" section of Craigslist, they generally do not have sex for free or in exchange for in-kind payments such as jewelry and meals in fancy restaurants—a difference that is legally important for reasons that escape me. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, fresh out of real crimes to prosecute, is determined to shut down this "online brothel."

I've heard similar allegations about the "Escort Service" and "Massage" sections in the yellow pages, but I don't recall any attorneys general trying to bully AT&T into dropping them, probably because the ads are more attractive and slightly more subtle. It's all a matter of taste, I guess. If Blumenthal at al.'s lust for indignation has not been satisfied yet, they should check out the "Pet Services" section of Craiglist. That sounds really disgusting.

Previous Reason coverage of Craigslist and prostitution here.