Craigslist.com has been subpoenaed by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who is investigating whether the popular online classified ad service is doing enough to quash prostitution on its site and whether it may be profiting from it, Reuters reports.
Blumenthal, who is co-heading a group of 39 states looking into the matter, said in a statement Monday that thousands of ads remain on Craigslist despite assurances from the company they would be removed.
The private company could be earning $36.3 million or more a year from prostitution and human trafficking, he said, citing published reports. Most ads on Craigslist are free except for jobs, New York brokered apartments, and U.S. adult and therapeutic services.
Blumenthal said the subpoena was issued in coordination with Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr.
“The Craigslist brothel business seems booming — belying its promise to fight prostitution,” said Blumenthal. “We are asking Craigslist for specific answers about steps to screen and stop sex-for-money offers — and whether the company is actually profiting from prostitution ads that it promised the states and public that it would try to block.”
In a blog posted on the site, Craigslist Chief Executive Jim Buckmaster wrote that Blumenthal was “once again indulging in self-serving publicity at the expense of the truth and his constituents…”
“As AG Blumenthal knows full well, Craigslist has gone beyond fulfilling its legal obligations, far beyond classifieds industry norms, has more than lived up to any promises it made, and working together with its partners is in fact a leader in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation,” Buckmaster wrote.
The attorney general’s request includes documents related to Craigslist’s manual review process, which the company says it uses to remove objectionable ads, correspondence from law enforcement, and documents related to revenue from the “erotic” and “adult” services ads.
Last year, Craigslist replaced its “erotic services” ads with a new “adult” category that it said would be closely screened.
That came under intense scrutiny from state authorities after a masseuse who offered her services on Craigslist was allegedly killed by a client.
