It’s not craigslist’s fault

Legal experts absolve craigslist on sex ads:

A fancy lawyerin’ type person says that craigslist is not responsible for their ads for illegal stuff like drugs and prostitution.

In the wake of an FBI raid on the home of a Sacramento photographer for allegedly posting photos of underage prostitutes on craigslist, experts said the huge online classified site has no responsibility for policing such behavior.

In fact, federal law specifically exempts online services from such liability, said Lauren Gelman, associate director of the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford University Law School.

Gelman said the federal Communications Decency Act, passed in 1996, exempts online services such as craigslist, America Online and Yahoo from liability for the content that their users post.

“If craigslist was accused of committing a criminal act, they would be liable,” Gelman said. “But for hosting pictures, there wouldn’t be any liability.”

Well isn’t that special? That still doesn’t change it from being a wretched hive of scum and villainy. They may not be legally responsible but how about, I know this is a foreign concept to most, morally responsible? It’s only a matter of time before one of these girls gets killed if one hasn’t been already. Not to mention the fact that these ads are advertising things that are illegal. I know, you think prostitution and drugs should be legal. That’s fine. If they’re ever legalized we won’t have to have this conversation. Until then in my mind craigslist is an accessory to drugs, prostitution, and God only knows what else.