New York, NY www.mystateline.com — The popular website Craigslist is under legal fire for its plethora of sexually oriented ads.
Some of those ads have been linked to a variety of crimes including two murders.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan [pictured] wants Craigslist to shut down its erotic services section, which she calls, quote, “nothing more than an Internet brothel.” She was joined by the attorneys-general of Connecticut and Missouri at a meeting with Craigslist officials in New York, who did not make a public statement after the session Tuesday.
But Madigan indicated Craigslist executives are aware of the problem and are willing to do something about it.
Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster recently wrote in a blog that “more must be done” by his company to stanch illegal activity on the website.
Craigslist figures prominently in two high-profile murder cases.
In Boston, 23-year-old Philip Markoff is charged with murdering a New York masseuse who advertised on Craigslist.
And in New York, a teenager is in custody for allegedly killing radio reporter George Weber after he advertised for sex services on Craigslist.
Despite Craigslist officials’ expressions of concern, Madigan says there are about 400 to 500 ads every day in the Chicago area for prostitution.
She said if Craigslist doesn’t do something about it, in her words, “I believe you’re going to see a whole series of lawsuits against them.”