Craigslist slaps 'Censored' label over 'Adult Services'

by Steven Mostyn - Sep 6 2010, 06:30

After being bombarded with calls to remove the prostitution-pedalling 'Adult Services' section of its services list, classified ads provider Craigslist has finally bowed to pressures exerted by numerous U.S. attorney generals and yanked the contentious section.

More pointedly, a swift visit to the Craigslist homepage reveals that a thick black 'Censored' label has been drawn over the place where 'Adult Services' once stood on the site.

“Ads for prostitution were rampant on this section of the website, and I'm pleased that Craigslist has removed it,” commented Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock in an official statement. “It's a step in the right direction and the responsible thing to do.”

It has taken around two weeks of continued pressure from some 17 different attorney generals across the United States to have the 'Adult Services' section removed. However, given that the label's prominence clearly smacks of duress, it remains to be seen how long it will remain in place.

Craigslist hit the headlines in April of 2009 when 25-year-old masseuse Julissa Brisman was murdered in a Boston hotel. Brisman's alleged killer, Philip Markoff, was dubbed 'The Craigslist Killer' after arranging to meet her through the website.

In August of this year, Brandon Petty pleaded guilty of sexually attacking four women that had advertised their services through Craigslist. Petty, who attacked his victims with a knife, now faces up to 45 years behind bars.

According to online advertising specialist AIM, Craigslist relies heavily on the revenue taken from its sex ads. In 2009 is took $45 million uSD from such adverts, a figure that equated to around one third of its operating profits for the year.

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