Wow, there are only too many problems with this! Many sex workers use Craigslist to find clients, and it would be nice if the community was asked before rules are made to supposedly “protect them”, yet again.
From the Bound, not Gagged blog for Sex Workers:
“In a move to appease law enforcement, Craigslist announced today that they will limit Erotic Services postings only to those who can pay a fee with a valid credit card. This comes several months after Craigslist changed their Erotic Services ad policy to require a valid telephone number in order to post.”
Under the watchful eye of law enforcement in 40 states, Craigslist pledged Thursday to crack down on ads for prostitution on its websites.
As part of Craigslist’s agreement with attorneys general around the country, anyone who posts an “erotic services” ad will be required to provide a working phone number and pay a fee with a valid credit card. The website will provide that information to law enforcement if subpoenaed.
Craigslist has also agreed to sue 14 software and internet companies that help people who post erotic service ads to circumvent the website’s defenses against inappropriate content and illegal activity.
Connecticut State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who demanded last March that Craigslist remove all Erotic Services postings, was behind the push. This seemed laughable at the time — especially given Craigslist’s agnostic stance on their Erotic Services section. So what’s going to change, for Craigslist and for sex workers?
The move to make credit cards mandatory now may seem like it protects minors in prostitution, by creating a paper trail back to the person who placed the ad, or, more likely, by deterring those who would place ads in the first place. Craigslist has also maintained for quite some time that they will cooperate with law enforcement’s requests for information about who places Erotic Services ads, but now legal names and addresses will be on file with them and ready to hand over to vice, immigration, and others.
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