An article from the Associated Press indicates that Craigslist has recently taken down its “Adult Services” Ads.
This is a very big deal. 
Unfortunately, it’s not a big deal for the reasons being given about why it had to be done and why they did, in fact, do it.
The reason it’s really a big deal is that sex trafficking is a huge problem in the U.S. (and in San Francisco, the home of Craig and his List in particular), and Craigslist has become a major source of buying and selling of women and children.
Craigslist keeps talking like it’s the victim of unfair enforcement. They appeal to other sites that run ads that can easily be seen as prostitution. And really, that’s the lingering cloud over the whole thing. The point is that Craigslist has facilitated one of the most egregious, on-going human rights violations being perpetrated in the U.S. Even if there’s technically nothing illegal or less legal than the next guy, Craig should shut down what has become a major artery in the human trafficking pipeline.
Good for them for taking it down. Shame on them for fighting to keep it up.
Thank you, Dr. Kirk. mkf
My first reaction was exhilaration at this big hit against human trafficking. Second was amazement that craigslist actually cut off this huge source of their revenue. Then pride, thinking that a large movement of abolitionists in our city had made an impact by protesting at their headquarters and bombarding them with emails to kick off a strike against craigslist just a few months ago.
(Idealism flying out the window)
What a shame that it took them this long and that they didn’t act until threat of legal action became imminent.
as usual, things are not so simple.
http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2010/09/06/how-censoring-craigslist-helps-pimps-child-traffickers-and-other-abusive-scumbags.html