Craigslist chief: 'We're the victim of a witch-hunt'

[marmar]

from the Guardian UK:



Craigslist chief Jim Buckmaster: we're the victim of a witch-hunt
Politicians and 'hypocritical' media have launched unfair assault over adult ads on Craigslist, says Jim Buckmaster

Bobbie Johnson, San Francisco
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 28 May 2009


Jim Buckmaster, the chief executive of listings website Craigslist, speaks out over allegations that the site promoted prostitution by hosting an 'erotic services' category Link to this video Classified advertising website Craigslist has been the victim of a "witch-hunt" by self-interested politicians and the hypocritical media, according to the man in charge of the company.

Talking to the Guardian, chief executive Jim Buckmaster – who has run the website since 2000 – said that a recent string of claims that Craigslist encourages prostitution are part of a concerted attack by government officials and the press.

"We were just the subjects of a witch-hunt over a certain class of ads," he said. "We've had this recent episode where a grandstanding politician has decided to call us out as criminals in a way that was unfair, unreasonable and unlawful."

The individual in question? Henry McMaster, the attorney general of South Carolina, who threatened Craigslist with criminal investigation over the issue. Buckmaster responded by suing McMaster, and was granted a temporary restraining order last weekend to stop such threats happening again.

McMaster has not responded to the Guardian's request for comment, but in an earlier statement he said that the decision to sue by Craigslist was a victory for his office, because it showed that the website "is taking the matter seriously for the first time". .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/may/28/craigslist-jim-buckmaster-adult-ads

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Agree.

If a bank robber rents a room from you, you don't get charged with abetting bank robbery. If people are using Craigslist for illicit purposes, it is on them, not Craigslist.

[Ms. Toad]

4. Actually, the law is not that blind

In fair housing cases, for example, if a landlord places an ad that is discriminatory - even one that merely uses code words for discriminatory practices - the newspaper in which s/he places the ad is obligated to reject it. If the newspaper does not, it may be found to be participating in the discrimination engaged in by the landlord.

Craigslist is a little different - as I understand it, they don't pre-screen their ads, and fair housing cases are under a different statutory scheme. On the other hand, they have a category that from the title seems to invite ads for prostitution.

...and not to say there isn't some pressure from the newspapers to stifle the competition.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. And Craigslist's code of conduct specifically requires compliance with Fair Housing law

and other federal regulations. IIRC initially Craigslist claimed no responsibility for ads violating fair housing regs and has been cited or sued over violations in the past.

I don't know if there are good grounds to go after them on the sex services ads -- lots of newspapers publish pages of "massage" and "escort" services that are thinly veiled prostitution ads -- but it's hardly a witch hunt to investigate it.

[ejpoeta]

2. problem is that craigslist is hurting newspapers and other places people charge

to post ads. Wonder how long the harrassment will go on before they end up selling.... because the owner was offered a lot of money to sell but didn't. I don't think they should be blamed for what people post on the site. period. It's ridiculous. but then again, i think prostitution should be legal and regulated. but that's just me.

[Forkboy]

3. The world loves a scapegoat.