Craigslist slammed for alleged prostitution promotion

Craigslist, the highly popular advertising site, has been heavily criticised for its permissive attitude towards the adult market in America. An open letter to the Washington Post has identified the site as being the number one choice of advertisers wishing to promote illegal prostitution and generate custom for underage services.

The letter read: “My memories are of making my own arrangements on Craigslist to be sold for sex. I was first forced into prostitution when I was 11 years old by a 28-year-old man. All day, other girls and I sat with our laptops, posting pictures and answering ads on Craigslist. I am 17 now, and my childhood memories aren’t of my family, going to middle school, or dancing at the prom.”

“They are of making my own arrangements on Craigslist to be sold for sex, and answering as many ads as possible for fear of beatings and ice water baths. Craigslist is now the choice of traffickers because it is so well known and there are rarely consequences to using it for these illegal acts”.

The author, who penned the letter under the name ‘MC’, has called for Craigslist administrators to remove all advertisements for the adult industry, suggesting that the facility made it far too easy for people to exploit young women illegally. ‘MC’ was joined by another woman who attested to undergoing a similar harrowing experience by someone using Craigslist for the purposes of underage exploitation.

Chief Executive of the site, Jim Buckmaster, has responded by enquiring as to whether the crimes were reported to authorities, and if anyone had been arrested. He has called for more information in order that the site can enhance its security. He has asked that he could locate the police files pertaining to the case, in order to learn more before making a decision. His statement read:

“We have been unable thus far to identify police reports matching the crimes you describe. If anyone committing such crimes has not yet been apprehended and prosecuted, we want to do everything in our power to assist the police in making that happen.”

Adult adverts on the site are now being screened manually, in order to capture any illicit advertising or anything which seems to contravene rules of posting.

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