Questions arise over blackout protests of online piracy laws

Sites such as Wikipedia, Craigslist and Reddit, who blacked out their websites in protest against the proposed online piracy laws, have come under criticism for abusing their power. “It is an irresponsible response and a disservice to people who rely on them for information (or) use their services,” said former Sen. Chris Dodd, president of [...]

Publications face hard choices as pressure mounts against online sex ads

The Village Voice Media’s Backpage.com includes an adult section with the majority of ads involving adults, but occasionally or rarely an ad slips buy involving sex with minors. Revenue from “adult” sections help publications such as The Village Voice stay afloat, but as one theologian said, “Even if one minor is sold for sex, it [...]

State attorneys general put heat on Village Voice Media alleging it runs sex trafficking hub

The National Association of Attorneys General has written a letter to Village Voice Media saying its efforts to limit prostitution ads including those involving children on its Backpage.com web site have been “ineffective.” Backpage.com denies it allows illegal ads, but now the association is asking them to answer detailed questions about its practices. -db From [...]

Teenage sex trafficking victim sues Village Voice for running sex ad with her photos

A teenager has sued Village Voice Media for knowingly allowing her pimp to post photos of her online in an ad for prostitution services. -db Ars Technica Commentary September 19, 2010 By Jacqui Cheng A teenage child trafficking victim has filed a lawsuit against Village Voice Media, for knowingly allowing her pimp to post ads [...]

Craigslist founder asked to testify before congressional committee on sex trafficking

A CNET commentator says that in an election year Craigslist had better brace themselves for a political onslaught on the issue of sex trafficking beginning with congressional hearings. -db CNET News Commentary September 9, 2010 By Declan McCullagh A year ago, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark was busy touting e-government, promoting neighborhood social networks, and blogging [...]

Online freedom advocate backs Craigslist in battle over ‘adult services’ ads

Electronic Freedom Foundation’s senior staff attorney says that Craigslist has cooperated with law enforcement in identifying sex traffickers operating on its site and should not be bullied by threats from state attorneys general into compromising Internet freedom. -db Electronic Freedom Foundation Commentary September 8, 2010 By Matt Zimmerman On Saturday, after years of pressure from [...]

Digital rights groups rise to Craigslist’s defense in case over harassing posts

A coalition of digital rights groups and law professors have joined to argue in California appellate court that a superior court erred in allowing a man to sue Craigslist for failing to removed harassing posts by its users. -db Online Media Daily September 3, 2010 By Wendy Davis A recent court ruling allowing a California man [...]

Adult services ads: Some see Craigslist shut down as tactic

Analysts say that by shutting its adult services section, Craigslist may be playing to public opinion while considering its options. -db The New York Times September 5, 2010 By Claire Cain Miller SAN FRANCISCO — Craigslist, by shutting off its “adult services” section and slapping a “censored” label in its place, may be engaging in [...]

Craigslist drops adult services section

Craigslist removed its website sexual ads last week, replacing the link with the word “censored.” -db San Francisco Chronicle September 5, 2010 By James Temple SAN FRANCISCO – After years of mounting public pressure, Craigslist appears to have surrendered in a battle over sexual ads on its website that some viewed as a test case [...]

Craigslist’s ‘Adult Services’ decision a blow to free speech?

Craigslist has decided to eplace its “Adult Services” section with a “Censored” bar that blocks content. Does this  limit free speech? MSNBC/ Commentary September 6, 2010 By Athima Chansanchai With Craigslist’s decision to replace its “Adult Services” section of its “Services” classifieds with a “Censored” bar that blocks that content, the online powerhouse has once [...]

First Amendment Kiss-Off** to Craigslist

A First Amendment kiss-off**  to Craigslist, which is resisting the demands of seventeen state attorneys general (but not including California’s Jerry Brown) that it shut down the website’s “adult services” section because, claim the AGs, it continues to promote prostitution and child-trafficking despite the site owners’ introduction of vetting (by lawyers, no less!) of sexually-oriented [...]

Attorneys general pressure Craigslist to remove adult service ad section

Attorneys general in seventeen states have asked Craigslist to disband its adult services section on its website since it cannot block illegal ads on the site promoting prostitution and child trafficking. -db San Francisco Chronicle August 25, 2010 By Everton Bailey Jr. HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – San Francisco-based Craigslist should remove its adult services section [...]

Attorney allowed to sue over allegedly defamatory anonymous messages on Craigslist

A California district Court of Appeal ruled that a Woodland Hills attorney could sue an anonymous poster for accusing him of committing illegal acts. The court said the posts were neither political speech nor in the public interest and did not qualify for protection under the state’s anti-SLAPP law. -db Metropolitan News-Enterprise June 1, 2010 [...]

Craigslist critics run ad charging service provides venue for selling sex with underage girls

Human rights advocates claimed that Craigslist  is the choice for selling sex with underage girls and in a newspaper ad called for the company to close down its adult services section that generated $36 million last year. -db San Francisco Chronicle May 20, 2010 By Benny Evangelista Critics of Craigslist’s adult advertisements have taken their [...]

Free speech: Federal court rules against sheriff in erotic advertising case

Craigslist won a legal battle recently when a federal court dismissed a lawsuit against the company for posting ads for “erotic services” on its website. the court agreed that Craigslist was protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and ws not responsible of the content of third parties. -DB Electronic Frontier Foundation Legal [...]