The end of Craigslist’s erotic ads

Say goodbye to what prosecutors call “a blatant Internet brothel,” said Alan Duke in CNN. Craigslist has agreed to shut down its controversial “erotic services” listings, and replace them with a new section that will be reviewed by Craigslist employees. “Craigslist is heeding our clear call for conscience and common sense,” said Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.

Vice cops can pat themselves on the back all they want, said Owen Thomas in Gawker, but this is “just a name change.” The same ads will be back as soon as Craigslist launches the new section. The best part of this “silliness” is the image of the “hypernerdy Craigslist founder Craig Newmark” personally reviewing ads to weed out the prostitution-friendly phrases.

Some victory, said Queerty. Prosecutors steamrolled Craigslist with threats after Craigslist killer suspect Philip Markoff found masseuse Julissa Brisman using the “erotic services” ads. But “online prostitution will now move to more shadow-y, less regulated, less restrictive, and less monitored sites whose operators might be a touch less willing to work with authorities.”

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