Craigslist Stops Hooker Ads, Joins Gambling Hypocrits

Craigslist, the Internet classified advertising site, has announced it will no longer carry ads for adult services, including what many said were transparent promotions for prostitution. The decision is yet another victory for appearance over reality, similar to newpapers decrying illegal gambling while routinely publishing sports betting morning lines.

Like Renault in “Casablanca,” Craiglist operators are apparently “shocked, shocked that (prostitution) is going on” as a result of their adult advertising. US readers now see black boxes with the word “censored” in place of hooker ads, although users in other countries can still see the original text.

A coalition of 17 state attorneys general had demanded Craigslist end the advertising, which flouted laws against prostitution, they said. Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal said the group welcomed the change in Craigslist, and were seeking an official statement of policy.

Most of the Craigslist ads are free, but ads in the adult section sell for $10 each. That department alone is rumored to bring in $36 million a year for Craigslist, indicating a significant demand for the service.

Yet, like sports gambling, authorities will only permit less obvious paths around the law. Morning lines and escort agencies ads are placed in print, but direct contact to bookies and hookers draws attention from law enforcement.

Organized crime benefits the most from this policy, as running sportsbooks and brothels are major sources of illegal income. Individual operators are thwarted by such actions as denying the ads, directing the flow of money directly to mob-run outlets.

In effect, attempting to manufacture a fantasy Disneyfied image for the public exacerbates the underlying problem of organized crime, all in an effort to allow a certain deniability to public officials.