Craigslist to Crack Down on Prostitution

Worried about its site being used to traffic prostitution, Craigslist said today it would crack down on ads for prostitution on its Web sites. Attorney generals from 40 states also noted that their respective states will work with Craigslist in this effort, however California was not one of them.

As part of Craigslist's arrangement with attorneys general around the country, any individual posting an "erotic services" ad will be required to provide a working phone number and pay a fee with a valid credit card. Craigslist will provide that information to law enforcement if subpoenaed.

Craigslist also said it will sue more than a dozen software and Internet companies that help people who post erotic service ads to circumvent the Web site's defenses against inappropriate content and illegal activity.

Police nationwide have been arresting people for using Web sites like Craigslist to advertise the sexual services of women and children.

States taking part in the agreement include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam also joined.