MESSAGE ON CRAIGSLIST:
US Congress just passed HR 1865, "FOSTA", seeking to subject websites to criminal and civil liability when third parties (users) misuse online personals unlawfully.
Any tool or service can be misused. We can't take such risk without jeopardizing all our other services, so we are regretfully taking craigslist personals offline. Hopefully we can bring them back some day.
To the millions of spouses, partners, and couples who met through craigslist, we wish you every happiness!
Craigslist removes notorious personals section
Chris Gothner Reporter: Updated: 10:20 PM CDT Mar 23, 2018
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — A new federal bill aiming to stop online sex trafficking has led to the shutdown of Craigslist's notorious personals sections.
The service laments a bill passed Wednesday by the U.S. Senate on a 97-2 vote that will hold websites liable for users who misuse online personals. The bill is an attempt to prevent sex trafficking.
A companion bill passed the House in February with wide bipartisan support.
In Iowa, where Interstate 80 runs east and west and Interstate 35 runs north and south, police said they're being extra vigilant about human trafficking.
"The state and federal authorities do a lot of things that we work with and collaborate with to try and prevent human trafficking, especially along the I-80/I-35 corridor," said Sgt. Chad Underwood, with the Urbandale Police Department.
Kellie Markey, who runs a local shelter called Dorothy's House, said she hopes the Craigslist shutdown will curb trafficking. "Whatever can be done to continue to make Iowa the hardest place to execute this business is all good," she said. "The perpetrators of this crime are very sophisticated in finding their market, and regardless of what Craigslist does or Backpage does, these perpetrators are going to find ways to find their buyers."
Groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation have come out against the bills, saying they have a chilling effect on free speech. (( I AGREE!!!)
And human trafficking survivor advocacy group Freedom Network USA said in a letter to legislators that the bill could harm victims and sex workers by pushing the trade underground.
But Markey said, even though she thinks perpetrators will eventually find new ways to victimize, "the harder we make it for people to conduct this crime, the better."
Police said traffickers can also go on sites such as Facebook. If you see anything questionable on social media, police said, call authorities and keep an eye on your children's online behavior.
Craigslist says on its website, "We can't take such risk without jeopardizing all our other services, so we are regretfully taking Craigslist personals offline. Hopefully we can bring them back some day."
President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law.
The service laments a bill passed Wednesday by the U.S. Senate on a 97-2 vote that will hold websites liable for users who misuse online personals. The bill is an attempt to prevent sex trafficking.
In Iowa, where Interstate 80 runs east and west and Interstate 35 runs north and south, police said they're being extra vigilant about human trafficking.
"The state and federal authorities do a lot of things that we work with and collaborate with to try and prevent human trafficking, especially along the I-80/I-35 corridor," said Sgt. Chad Underwood, with the Urbandale Police Department.
Kellie Markey, who runs a local shelter called Dorothy's House, said she hopes the Craigslist shutdown will curb trafficking. "Whatever can be done to continue to make Iowa the hardest place to execute this business is all good," she said. "The perpetrators of this crime are very sophisticated in finding their market, and regardless of what Craigslist does or Backpage does, these perpetrators are going to find ways to find their buyers."
Groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation have come out against the bills, saying they have a chilling effect on free speech. (( I AGREE!!!)
And human trafficking survivor advocacy group Freedom Network USA said in a letter to legislators that the bill could harm victims and sex workers by pushing the trade underground.
But Markey said, even though she thinks perpetrators will eventually find new ways to victimize, "the harder we make it for people to conduct this crime, the better."
Police said traffickers can also go on sites such as Facebook. If you see anything questionable on social media, police said, call authorities and keep an eye on your children's online behavior.
Craigslist says on its website, "We can't take such risk without jeopardizing all our other services, so we are regretfully taking Craigslist personals offline. Hopefully we can bring them back some day."
President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law.
Craigslist Removes 'Personals' Section After Congress Passes Sex Trafficking Bill
By Kate Samuelson March 23, 2018
Craigslist, the widely-used classified ads website, has removed its ‘personals’ section, which displays dating and friendship listings, from its U.S. website in response to a new bill against sex trafficking passed by Congress Wednesday.
Under the new bill,
individuals who own, manage or operate a website “to promote or
facilitate the prostitution of another person” can face fines and prison
terms of up to 10 years. Penalties can also be imposed on a person who
“promotes or facilitates” prostitution of five or more people, or “acts
with reckless disregard that such conduct contributes to sex
trafficking.”
This means that the owners of websites which allow the posting of classified ads, such as Craigslist, could face charges or prison terms even if third parties misuse the service to promote prostitution.
In a statement posted on its website, Craigslist
explained that “any tool or service can be misused” and therefore the
company “can’t take such risk” with its ‘personals’ section. It added
that it was “regretfully” taking its personal ads offline, but would
hopefully “bring them back some day.”
Over the years, Craigslist’s ‘personals’ section has developed something of a cult following in the U.S., spawning Twitter accounts devoted to sourcing the strangest, funniest and most heartwarming posts. One such account, called CraigslistLove, has nearly 60,000 followers.
However, the site has also been used in the past for listings for escorts.
This means that the owners of websites which allow the posting of classified ads, such as Craigslist, could face charges or prison terms even if third parties misuse the service to promote prostitution.
Over the years, Craigslist’s ‘personals’ section has developed something of a cult following in the U.S., spawning Twitter accounts devoted to sourcing the strangest, funniest and most heartwarming posts. One such account, called CraigslistLove, has nearly 60,000 followers.
However, the site has also been used in the past for listings for escorts.
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